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March 24, 2026
淀(澱)diàn(dian4)
The character 淀 (diàn) primarily refers to shallow water bodies such as marshes or swamps. It also describes sediment that settles at the bottom of water bodies, making it relevant in both natural and scientific contexts, particularly in discussions about water quality and environmental science.
Strokes11Radical氵Frequency#60329DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, wetlands and marshes have been vital for agriculture, providing rich soil and water for crops. Understanding the significance of these environments can deepen appreciation for terms like 淀.
Memory Tip
Imagine a 'dian' (sound like 'diàn') where a shallow pond has settled sediment at the bottom. The character is made up of the water radical 氵 (indicating its water-related meaning) and the component '店' (diàn), which can remind you of a store by the water – a place where things settle.
Meanings of 淀
diàn(dian4)
1shallow water
2sediment
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 淀 means.
About 淀
淀Simplified
澱Traditional
11Strokes
氵Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#60329Frequency Rank
Podcast: 淀
Podcast: 淀
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AI Study Notes for 淀
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 淀 with similar-sounding characters. It's used more in scientific or descriptive contexts rather than everyday conversation. Be mindful of its neutral tone; using a rising or falling tone can alter its meaning.
HSK Study Tips
Although not part of the HSK vocabulary, 淀 can be connected with related characters like 水 (water) and 沉 (sink), which can enhance understanding of terms related to water and sediment. Focus on pronunciation and recognizing its usage in context.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use 淀 when describing deep water or currents, which is incorrect. Instead, use 深 (shēn) for deep water contexts.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 淀
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How Well Do You Know 淀?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 淀 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.
淀 = 氵 + 定. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 淀
IDS Structure⿰氵定
淀Full Character
=
氵shui3
left
定ding4
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 淀?
How to say shallow water in Chinese
“shallow water” in Chinese is淀diàn
The character 淀 (diàn) primarily refers to shallow water bodies such as marshes or swamps. It also describes sediment that settles at the bottom of water bodies, making it relevant in both natural and scientific contexts, particularly in discussions about water quality and environmental science.
When to use 淀
Learners often confuse 淀 with similar-sounding characters. It's used more in scientific or descriptive contexts rather than everyday conversation. Be mindful of its neutral tone; using a rising or falling tone can alter its meaning.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mistakenly use 淀 when describing deep water or currents, which is incorrect. Instead, use 深 (shēn) for deep water contexts.
Write 淀
淀
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Practice writing 淀 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 淀
淀 carries 4 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
Exercise 1 of 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
一旦杂质沉____下去，油就可以分级了。
Once its impurities had settled, the oil could be graded.
The degraded starch and acrylamide - butyl acrylate copolymer have been produced.
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Word Family of 淀
Words Containing This Character11
淀粉diànfěnstarch澱粉
沉淀chéndiànto settle沉澱
海淀区Haidian inner district of northeast Beijing, includes Peking University, Tsinghua University 清華大學|清华大学[Qīnghuádàxué] and Zhongguancun 中關村|中关村[Zhōngguāncūn]海澱區
积淀jīdiàndeposits accumulated over long periods積澱
沉淀物precipitate沉澱物
淀粉酶amylase澱粉酶
海淀Haidian inner district of northeast Beijing, includes Peking University, Tsinghua University 清華大學|清华大学[Qīnghuádàxué] and Zhongguancun 中關村|中关村[Zhōngguāncūn]海澱
淀diànsediment澱
白洋淀Lake Baiyangdian白洋澱
淀山湖Dianshan Lake between Shanghai Municipality and Jiangsu Province澱山湖
海淀图书城Haidian Book City, Beijing bookstore海澱圖書城
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 淀
What does 淀粉 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 淀
While both relate to sediment, 淀 specifically refers to sediment in water bodies, while 沉 means to sink or submerge.
It's more commonly found in environmental discussions or scientific texts rather than in casual speech.
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