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嘀 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
嘀
dī
to whisper
v, 14 strokes, radical 口, rank #17762, Very Hard
嘀
dī
(onom.) sound of dripping water, a ticking clock etc
unknown, 14 strokes, radical 口, rank #17762, Very Hard
嘀
dí
to whisper
v, 14 strokes, radical 口, rank #17762, Very Hard
嘀
dí
(onom.) sound of dripping water, a ticking clock etc
unknown, 14 strokes, radical 口, rank #17762, Very Hard
dí(di2)di
primary
T2
1to whisper
2(onom.) sound of dripping water, a ticking clock etc
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
嘀dí(di2)
The character 嘀 (dí) primarily refers to the sound of dripping water or a ticking clock, often used in onomatopoeic contexts. It can also mean to whisper or speak softly, conveying a sense of secrecy or intimacy in communication. This word is commonly used in informal settings to describe light sounds or hushed conversations.
Strokes14Radical口Frequency#17762DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, the sound of dripping water is often associated with tranquility or contemplation, sometimes representing patience in traditional poetry. It reflects the appreciation for subtle sounds in nature.
Memory tip
Imagine a clock ticking softly, making the sound 'dí' as it marks each second. The character 嘀 resembles a person whispering (the upper part '口' represents a mouth) while the lower part suggests the rhythm of time passing, like water dripping.
Meanings of 嘀
dí(di2)
primary
1to whisper
2(onom.) sound of dripping water, a ticking clock etc
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 嘀 means.
About 嘀
嘀Simplified
14Strokes
口Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 嘀
Podcast: 嘀
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AI study notes for 嘀
Usage Notes
Be cautious about using 嘀 in formal contexts, as it is primarily informal and often associated with everyday sounds. Common collocations include 嘀咕 (dí gū), which means to murmur or whisper. Pay attention to the tone, as using the wrong tone can change the meaning entirely.
HSK Study Tips
While 嘀 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it connects to HSK Level 2 words like 声音 (shēng yīn, sound) and 耳朵 (ěr duo, ear). Focus on the onomatopoeic nature of the word and practice using it in sentences that describe sounds.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 嘀 with similar-sounding characters like 低 (dī, low) and may use it incorrectly in formal settings. For example, saying '我在嘀一个秘密' instead of the correct '我在低声说一个秘密' (I am speaking softly about a secret) shows a misunderstanding of context.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 嘀
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Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 嘀 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
嘀 = 口 + 啇. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 嘀
IDS Structure⿰口啇
嘀Full character
=
口kou3
left
啇di4
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 嘀?
How to say to whisper in Chinese
“to whisper” in Chinese is嘀dī
The character 嘀 (dí) primarily refers to the sound of dripping water or a ticking clock, often used in onomatopoeic contexts. It can also mean to whisper or speak softly, conveying a sense of secrecy or intimacy in communication. This word is commonly used in informal settings to describe light sounds or hushed conversations.
When to use 嘀
Be cautious about using 嘀 in formal contexts, as it is primarily informal and often associated with everyday sounds. Common collocations include 嘀咕 (dí gū), which means to murmur or whisper. Pay attention to the tone, as using the wrong tone can change the meaning entirely.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 嘀 with similar-sounding characters like 低 (dī, low) and may use it incorrectly in formal settings. For example, saying '我在嘀一个秘密' instead of the correct '我在低声说一个秘密' (I am speaking softly about a secret) shows a misunderstanding of context.
Write 嘀
嘀
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Practice writing 嘀 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 嘀
嘀 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
一只上了弦的钟在厨房的案子上____嗒响个不停。
A wind-up clock ticked busily from the kitchen counter.
Example sentences for 嘀 (8)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
一只上了弦的钟在厨房的案子上嘀嗒响个不停。
yī zhī shàng le xián de zhōng zài chúfáng de àn zi shàng dí dā xiǎng gè bùtíng。
A wind-up clock ticked busily from the kitchen counter.
2
又一滴水嘀嗒一声落下。
yòu yī dī shuǐ dí dā yī shēng luòxià。
Another drop of water fell with a soft plop.
3
他坐在那儿，听着落地式大摆钟嘀嗒作响。
tā zuò zài nàr， tīng zhuóluò dì shì dà bǎi zhōng dí dā zuō xiǎng。
He sat listening to the tick of the grandfather clock.
4
我给表上紧发条，听着它嘀嗒作响。
wǒ gěi biǎo shàng jǐn fā tiáo， tīng zhe tā dí dā zuō xiǎng。
