The Kanji: 滴 (Teki / Shizuku)
The kanji 滴 (read as teki or shizuku) means "drop" (as in a drop of liquid) or "to drip." It is composed of the water radical (氵) on the left, indicating its connection to liquid, and the component 啇 on the right, which contributes to its sound and reinforces the idea of a small, precise unit. This structure perfectly depicts a single, falling droplet of water.
Common Words & Example Sentences
1. 滴 (shizuku)
Meaning: A drop (of liquid).
Example Sentence: 雨の滴が窓を伝う。
(Ame no shizuku ga mado o tsutau.)
"Raindrops trickle down the window."
2. 水滴 (suiteki)
Meaning: A water drop.
Example Sentence: 葉の上に水滴が光っている。
(Ha no ue ni suiteki ga hikatte iru.)
"Waterdrops are glistening on the leaves."
3. 点滴 (tenteki)
Meaning: An intravenous drip; drip-feed (medical term).
Example Sentence: 医師が患者に点滴をした。
(Ishi ga kanja ni tenteki o shita.)
"The doctor put the patient on an IV drip."
4. 滴下 (tekika)
Meaning: Dripping; dropping (a liquid).
Example Sentence: 薬を滴下する。
(Kusuri o tekika suru.)
"To drip medicine."
In summary, 滴 is the essential kanji for representing a small quantity of liquid, from natural water drops (水滴) and raindrops (滴) to controlled medical procedures (点滴) and the action of dripping itself (滴下).