Definitions

(verb) to drip; to drop
(noun) drop (of liquid)

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the sound and represents the meaning.

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character "滴" is formed by the water radical (氵) paired with the component "啇", which serves primarily as a phonetic indicator, a structure that has directly informed its etymology and association with liquid. Its core meaning has always centered on the concept of a drop or the action of dripping, derived from the semantic influence of the water radical. Over time, the term's application expanded from strictly denoting physical drops of fluid to also functioning as a verb for dripping and, in broader usage, referring to minute quantities or incremental units in various linguistic contexts.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

在石头上。

shuǐ dī dī zài shí tóu shang.

Water drips onto the stone.

雨水从屋檐下。

yǔ shuǐ cóng wū yán dī xià.

Rainwater drips from the eaves.

眼药水。

qǐng dī jǐ dī yǎn yào shuǐ.

Please put a few drops of eye drops.

他听到时钟的答声。

tā tīng dào shí zhōng de dī dā shēng.

He heard the ticking sound of the clock.

她的眼泪一地落下。

tā de yǎn lèi yī dī yī dī de luò xià.

Her tears fell drop by drop.

这种灌技术非常节水。

zhè zhǒng dī guàn jì shù fēi cháng jié shuǐ.

This drip irrigation technology is very water-saving.

医生仔细分析着每一血液样本。

yī shēng zǐ xì fēn xī zhe měi yī dī xuè yè yàng běn.

The doctor carefully analyzes every drop of the blood sample.

这个实验要求试剂的剂量精确到每一

zhè ge shí yàn yāo qiú shì jì de jì liàng jīng què dào měi yī dī.

This experiment requires the dosage of the reagent to be precise to every drop.