Meanings of 滌
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 滌
Podcast: 滌
Podcast: 滌
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 滌
洗 (xǐ) vs 滌 (dí): Use 滌 when emphasizing a deeper purification beyond just washing.
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.
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.
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).
Pronunciation of 滌
Drill the tone of 滌 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Etymology of 滌
Phonosemantic compound. 氵 represents the meaning and 条 represents the sound. Simplified form of 滌.
water
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 滌
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條 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 滌? 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
What type of character formation is 滌?
Decomposition of 滌
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 滌?
How to say to wash, to sweep; to purify, to cleanse in Chinese
“to wash, to sweep; to purify, to cleanse” in Chinese is滌
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.
When to use 滌
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.
滌 or something close to it
洗 (xǐ) vs 滌 (dí): Use 滌 when emphasizing a deeper purification beyond just washing.
What learners get wrong
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).
Write 滌
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 滌 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Word Family of 滌
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.'
Jason Recommends
Not sure what to learn after 滌?
Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.