耷

dā
大 + 耳
Frequency#4120

Definitions

dā (literary) big ears; (bound form) to droop

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 耳 represents the meaning and 大 represents the sound.

Semantic: 耳 Phonetic: 大

About

The character "耷" is constructed from the components 大 (big) and 耳 (ear), forming a ideographic compound that originally denoted the physical trait of having large ears. Its meaning gradually extended from this literal sense to describe the action or state of drooping or hanging down, as seen in the modern term "耷拉", a semantic shift influenced by the visual association of large, pendulous ears. The graphical structure, with 大 positioned above 耳, has remained consistent, directly reflecting its etymological basis.

Example Sentences Hide

小狗的耳朵耷拉着。

Xiǎo gǒu de ěrduo dāla zhe.

The puppy's ears are drooping.

他耷拉着脑袋不说话。

Tā dāla zhe nǎodai bù shuōhuà.

He droops his head and doesn't speak.

窗帘耷拉在窗台上。

Chuānglián dāla zài chuāngtái shàng.

The curtains are hanging down on the windowsill.

别让书包带子耷拉下来。

Bié ràng shūbāo dàizi dāla xiàlái.

Don't let the backpack straps droop down.

花儿耷拉着头，因为太热了。

Huā'er dāla zhe tóu, yīnwèi tài rè le.

The flowers are drooping their heads because it's too hot.

他累得肩膀都耷拉下来了。

Tā lèi de jiānbǎng dōu dāla xiàlái le.

He was so tired that his shoulders drooped down.

那只大狗的耳朵总是耷拉着。

Nà zhī dà gǒu de ěrduo zǒngshì dāla zhe.

That big dog's ears are always drooping.

在烈日下，植物的叶子都耷拉了。

Zài lièrì xià, zhíwù de yèzi dōu dāla le.

Under the scorching sun, the leaves of the plants all drooped.

Related Characters

Component: 大

天 因 美 太 达 类 参 奇 奥 套 夺 奖 奋 庆

Component: 耳

取 联 职 敢 闻 耳 耶 聪 聊 耸 耻 聘 耽 耿

Example Words

耷拉 臊眉耷眼