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March 24, 2026
滌dí(di2)
The character 滌 (dí) means 'to wash' or 'to purify.' It is often used in contexts related to cleaning or cleansing, whether it be physical objects or abstract concepts like thoughts and emotions. The nuance of purification implies a deeper cleansing, not just surface-level washing.
Strokes14Radical氵Frequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, the concept of purification is significant, especially in practices like tea ceremonies and meditation, where the act of cleansing is not just physical but also spiritual.
Memory Tip
Imagine a river (水) flowing over a rock (石), washing away dirt to reveal a clean surface underneath. The pronunciation 'dí' sounds like 'dig', which you might imagine doing to uncover something pure beneath layers of dirt.
Meanings of 滌
dí(di2)
1to wash, to sweep; to purify, to cleanse
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 滌
滌Simplified
14Strokes
氵Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 滌
Podcast: 滌
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AI Study Notes for 滌
Quick Contrast
洗 (xǐ) vs 滌 (dí): Use 滌 when emphasizing a deeper purification beyond just washing.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a river (水) flowing over a rock (石), washing away dirt to reveal a clean surface underneath. The pronunciation 'dí' sounds like 'dig', which you might imagine doing to uncover something pure beneath layers of dirt.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 滌 (dí) with 洗 (xǐ), which also means 'to wash' but is used more commonly for laundry and general washing. 滌 is more formal and may appear in literary or philosophical contexts. It often collocates with words like '心' (heart) to indicate purifying thoughts.
HSK Study Tips
Although 滌 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it is a rich character that connects with words related to cleansing and purity. As you study, focus on its components: the water radical (氵) and the meaning of cleansing.
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, the concept of purification is significant, especially in practices like tea ceremonies and meditation, where the act of cleansing is not just physical but also spiritual.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 滌 with 洗, using 滌 in casual settings where 洗 would be more appropriate. For example, saying '我去滌衣服' (I am going to wash clothes) should be corrected to '我去洗衣服' (I am going to wash clothes).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 滌
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Cultural Notes for 滌
🏮Cultural insight
In traditional Chinese culture, the concept of purification is significant, especially in practices like tea ceremonies and meditation, where the act of cleansing is not just physical but also spiritual.
Word Family of 滌
Words Containing This Character12
洗涤to rinse洗滌
洗涤剂xǐdíjìcleaning agent洗滌劑
涤díto wash滌
涤纶polyester fiber滌綸
荡涤to clean up蕩滌
涤荡to wash off滌蕩
涤棉polyester-cotton blend滌棉
合成洗涤剂synthetic detergent合成洗滌劑
洗涤灵dishwashing liquid洗滌靈
涤卡polyester khaki (abbr. for 滌綸卡其布|涤纶卡其布)滌卡
涤除to wash away滌除
洗涤器washing appliance洗滌器
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 洗涤 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 滌
You might say '滌心' (dí xīn) to mean 'to purify the heart.'
No, it's more often found in literary or formal contexts.
Characters like 洗 (xǐ) and 净 (jìng) also relate to washing and cleansing.
