Meanings of 淚
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About 淚
Podcast: 淚
Podcast: 淚
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AI Study Notes for 淚
泪 (lèi) vs 涕 (tì) — choose 涕 for nasal mucus, while 淚 specifically denotes tears from the eyes.
Be cautious with the tone; 淚 (lèi) has a falling tone, which differentiates it from other similar-sounding words. It's more commonly used in written language or formal discussions about emotions rather than in everyday conversations. Collocations include phrases like '流淚' (to shed tears) and '眼淚' (eye tears).
Although 淚 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, its components can help learners connect with other water-related characters like 水 (water) or 泪 (tear, a related form). Focus on recognizing its usage in literary contexts and its emotional connotations.
Learners often confuse 淚 (lèi) with 泪 (lè), which is a simplified form. For example, saying '我流泪' (wǒ liú lèi) is correct, but mixing it with '淚' can lead to confusion about the character's complexity.
Pronunciation of 淚
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Etymology of 淚
Simplified form of 淚. Tears are drops of water (氵) coming from the eye (目).
water
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 淚
Simplified form of 淚. Tears are drops of water (氵) coming from the eye (目).
- 1The meaning half氵 carries the sense.
- 2The sound half戾 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 淚? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
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Decomposition of 淚
Identify the Components
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How to say tears; to cry, to weep in Chinese
“tears; to cry, to weep” in Chinese is淚
The character 淚 (lèi) refers to tears, often associated with crying or weeping. It is commonly used in emotional contexts, such as expressing sadness, joy, or relief. The character conveys a depth of feeling and is often found in literary and poetic expressions.
When to use 淚
Be cautious with the tone; 淚 (lèi) has a falling tone, which differentiates it from other similar-sounding words. It's more commonly used in written language or formal discussions about emotions rather than in everyday conversations. Collocations include phrases like '流淚' (to shed tears) and '眼淚' (eye tears).
淚 or something close to it
泪 (lèi) vs 涕 (tì) — choose 涕 for nasal mucus, while 淚 specifically denotes tears from the eyes.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 淚 (lèi) with 泪 (lè), which is a simplified form. For example, saying '我流泪' (wǒ liú lèi) is correct, but mixing it with '淚' can lead to confusion about the character's complexity.
Write 淚
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Practice writing 淚 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Word Family of 淚
Compound Meaning
What does 眼泪 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 淚
淚 is pronounced as 'lèi', with a falling tone.
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