How to Write 淀 (diàn) — Meaning “Starch / sediment”

Imagine a cup of muddy water where the dirt (represented by 定, meaning 'fixed') is sinking to the bottom (氵). The water becomes clear, and the settled dirt is the sediment (淀). Picture the left water radical and right 'fixed' to remember that starch is a fixed sediment in water.

The character 淀 has 11 strokes, and the right side 定 is proportionally a bit taller than the left water radical. A common mistake is making the right side too narrow or forgetting the top dot of 定 (which looks like a house roof). Practice writing the left radical first (three dots) then the right side, keeping the overall shape balanced and compact.

淀 (diàn) means sediment or starch, while 洁 (jié) means clean, often used in 清洁 (cleanliness). 洄 (huí) describes water flowing back or an eddy. Visually, 淀 has 定 on the right, 洁 has 吉 on the right, and 洄 has 回. Their meanings all involve water, but they represent different water-related concepts.

淀 appears in common words like 淀粉 (starch) in cooking and 沉淀 (sediment) in science. It is also used in the place name 海淀 (Haidian District, Beijing), a well-known area with many universities. This character is not in HSK but is helpful for learners interested in Chinese food or geography.

Common words containing 淀 include: 淀粉 (diàn fěn) — Starch; 沉淀 (chén diàn) — sediment; to settle (as sediment); 海淀 (hǎi diàn) — Haidian (a district in Beijing).