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March 24, 2026
涤(滌)dí(di2)
The character 涤 (dí) means 'to wash' or 'to cleanse.' It is often used in the context of washing clothes or purifying something, such as in the phrase '洗涤' (xǐdí), which means 'to clean' or 'to wash.' This character conveys a sense of purification, making it suitable for both physical cleaning and metaphorical cleansing.
Strokes10Radical氵Frequency#59836DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, cleanliness is highly valued, and washing is often associated with purity and moral integrity. This is especially evident during traditional festivals, where cleaning the home symbolizes sweeping away bad luck.
Memory Tip
Imagine a river (水, shuǐ) flowing gently, washing away dirt and impurities. The character 涤 combines the water radical 水, highlighting its connection to washing, with the phonetic component 迪, which sounds like 'dí.' Picture a river's cleansing flow as it sweeps away debris, helping you remember both the meaning and the sound.
Meanings of 涤
dí(di2)
1to wash, to sweep; to purify, to cleanse
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 涤
涤Simplified
滌Traditional
10Strokes
氵Radical
名语素míngcínoun root (n.root)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 涤
Podcast: 涤
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AI Study Notes for 涤
Quick Contrast
洗 (xǐ, to wash) vs 清 (qīng, to clean) — use 涤 when emphasizing purification or a more formal context.
Usage Notes
Be aware that 涤 is often used in more formal contexts compared to simpler words for 'wash' like 洗 (xǐ). Common collocations include '涤纶' (dílún), meaning 'polyester,' which relates to the cleaning of synthetic fabrics. Ensure to pronounce the second tone correctly, as mispronunciation can change the meaning.
HSK Study Tips
While 涤 is not included in HSK levels, it connects with HSK vocabulary related to cleaning and washing. Focus on its usage in compound words and phrases, as this will enhance your understanding of everyday contexts where washing is discussed.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 涤 with 洗 (xǐ) and use them interchangeably. For example, saying '我需要涤衣服' (wǒ xūyào dí yīfú) instead of '我需要洗衣服' (wǒ xūyào xǐ yīfú) is incorrect; the correct verb for washing clothes in everyday speech is 洗.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 涤
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Phonosemantic compound. 氵 represents the meaning and 条 represents the sound. Simplified form of 滌.
1The meaning half氵 carries the sense.
2The sound half条 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawaywater
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 涤? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 涤?
Decomposition of 涤
IDS Structure⿰氵条
涤Full Character
=
氵shui3
left
条tiao2
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 涤?
How to say to wash, to sweep; to purify, to cleanse in Chinese
“to wash, to sweep; to purify, to cleanse” in Chinese is涤dí
The character 涤 (dí) means 'to wash' or 'to cleanse.' It is often used in the context of washing clothes or purifying something, such as in the phrase '洗涤' (xǐdí), which means 'to clean' or 'to wash.' This character conveys a sense of purification, making it suitable for both physical cleaning and metaphorical cleansing.
When to use 涤
Be aware that 涤 is often used in more formal contexts compared to simpler words for 'wash' like 洗 (xǐ). Common collocations include '涤纶' (dílún), meaning 'polyester,' which relates to the cleaning of synthetic fabrics. Ensure to pronounce the second tone correctly, as mispronunciation can change the meaning.
涤 or something close to it
洗 (xǐ, to wash) vs 清 (qīng, to clean) — use 涤 when emphasizing purification or a more formal context.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 涤 with 洗 (xǐ) and use them interchangeably. For example, saying '我需要涤衣服' (wǒ xūyào dí yīfú) instead of '我需要洗衣服' (wǒ xūyào xǐ yīfú) is incorrect; the correct verb for washing clothes in everyday speech is 洗.
Write 涤
涤
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Practice writing 涤 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 涤
涤 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 5
Complete the Sentence
将洗____器的一面涂上安息香并将它贴到皮肤上.
Paint one side of washer with benzoin and apply this side to skin.
Example Sentences for 涤 (7)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
将洗涤器的一面涂上安息香并将它贴到皮肤上.
jiāng xǐ dí qì de yī miàn tú shàng ān xī xiāng bìng jiāng tā tiē dào pí fū shàng.
Paint one side of washer with benzoin and apply this side to skin.
