溪 (xī) - Stream, brook, small river & a watercourse, often in a valley or mountainous

溪Tone 1

xī ｜ 13 strokes ｜ radical:

万响

溪 · xī

Stream, brook, small river;

a watercourse, often in a valley or mountainous area.

Stream, brook, small rivera watercourse, often in a valley or mountainous

Usage highlights

Mountain streamSmall brookStream waterValley streamBrooksideStream valley

Synonyms

  • 河— river (generally larger)
  • 川— river, stream
  • 涧— mountain stream, gully

Antonyms

  • 山— mountain (contrasting landform)
  • 陆— land (as opposed to watercourse)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • A clear mountain stream (山溪) flows through the valley.
  • We followed the small brook (小溪) on our hike.
  • The valley stream (溪流) was teeming with fish.
  • Children played by the creek (溪边).

Collocations

  • Mountain stream(山溪)
  • Small brook(小溪)
  • Stream water(溪水)
  • Valley stream(溪流)
  • Brookside(溪边)
  • Stream valley(溪谷)

Idioms

  • As different as streams and valleys(溪壑无厌)
  • Streams and gullies(溪径)
  • Following the stream to find its source(沿溪溯源)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In Chinese landscape painting and poetry, '溪' often represents tranquility, purity, and the beauty of nature.
  • Many scenic spots in China incorporate '溪' in their names, reflecting the importance of waterways in traditional aesthetics.
  • In Daoist philosophy, streams symbolize the natural flow of life and harmony with nature.

FAQ