Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
滴dī(di1)
The character 滴 (dī) primarily means 'to drip' and refers to the action of liquid falling drop by drop. It is often used to describe the sound or action of water droplets, such as rain or a leaky faucet. In a broader context, it can also refer to a small amount of liquid, such as a drop of water.
Strokes14Radical氵Frequency#2709DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
滴 is commonly associated with the sound of raindrops in Chinese poetry and literature, emphasizing the beauty and tranquility of nature. The imagery of dripping water often symbolizes persistence or the passing of time in cultural expressions.
Memory Tip
Imagine a drop of water hanging from a leaf, about to drip down – this visual connects the sound 'dī' with the action of dripping. The character 滴 has the water radical 氵 (shuǐ), reinforcing its connection to liquid.
Meanings of 滴
dī(di1)
1a drop
2to drip
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 滴
滴Simplified
14Strokes
氵Radical
量词liàngcímeasure word (mw.)Part of Speech
#2709Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L6IntermediateTOCFLL5HSKKL3CEFRC1
Podcast: 滴
Podcast: 滴
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 滴
Quick Contrast
滴 (dī) vs 落 (luò) — use 滴 when specifically referring to the action of dripping, while 落 refers more generally to falling.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a drop of water hanging from a leaf, about to drip down – this visual connects the sound 'dī' with the action of dripping. The character 滴 has the water radical 氵 (shuǐ), reinforcing its connection to liquid.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 滴 with similar characters like 点 (diǎn), which means 'dot' or 'point.' 滴 is used in both formal and informal settings, particularly in descriptive contexts. Common collocations include '滴水' (dī shuǐ) meaning 'dripping water.'
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK 5 word, 滴 connects with other vocabulary related to nature and actions, such as 流 (liú, to flow) and 滑 (huá, to slide). Students should focus on using it in context to describe actions involving liquids.
Cultural Note
滴 is commonly associated with the sound of raindrops in Chinese poetry and literature, emphasizing the beauty and tranquility of nature. The imagery of dripping water often symbolizes persistence or the passing of time in cultural expressions.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 滴 with the character 提 (tí, to lift), leading to sentences like '我滴书' (Wǒ dī shū) instead of '我提书' (Wǒ tí shū, I lift the book). Ensure the correct action is being described.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 滴
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 滴 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 滴 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
Grammar Patterns of 滴
滴 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Cook pieces of succulent chicken with ample garlic and a little sherry.
9
只需要很小的一滴就可以了。
zhī xū yào hěn xiǎo de yī dī jiù kě yǐ le。
It's only necessary to use just a very small blob.
10
我们被一点一滴地压榨了12年。
wǒ mén bèi yī diǎn yī dī dì yā zhà le12 12。
We have been gradually bled for twelve years.
Cultural Notes for 滴
🏮Cultural insight
滴 is commonly associated with the sound of raindrops in Chinese poetry and literature, emphasizing the beauty and tranquility of nature. The imagery of dripping water often symbolizes persistence or the passing of time in cultural expressions.
Word Family of 滴
Words Containing This Character20
滴dīa drop
点滴a drip點滴
点点滴滴bit by bit點點滴滴
一点一滴bit by bit一點一滴
水滴drop
雨滴raindrop
滴水water drop
垂涎欲滴to hunger for
娇滴滴sweet嬌滴滴
打点滴to put sb on an intravenous drip打點滴
滴管eyedropper
滴水不漏watertight
滴灌drip irrigation
滴定titration
滴答(onom.) pattering sound
滴溜溜whirling
馋涎欲滴greedy饞涎欲滴
滴滴涕DDT (loanword)
滴漏water clock
水滴石穿Persistent effort overcomes any difficulty.
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 滴 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 滴
You can say '雨滴落下来' (Yǔ dī luò xià lái) meaning 'Raindrops are falling down.'
No, 滴 can refer to any liquid, but it is most commonly associated with water.
Synonyms include 流 (liú, to flow) and 滴水 (dī shuǐ, dripping water) in specific contexts.
