cam4 din6沉澱沉淀
Jyutpingcam4 din6
Yalechàhm dihn
Definition
To precipitate or settle as sediment; to settle and reflect on one's thoughts or emotions.
- to precipitate; to leave sediment behind
- figurativeto settle, calm down, or reflect on emotions or thoughts over time
neutraldaily actionsemotion
How it's used
Beyond the literal meaning of physical particles settling in liquid, this word is frequently used in a psychological sense to describe the process of letting thoughts, emotions, or experiences settle over time. It implies a period of quiet reflection that allows one to gain clarity or perspective after a chaotic or intense event. It is a sophisticated way to describe mental maturation or the stabilization of feelings.
Examples
The tea leaves have settled to the bottom of the cup.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 沉迷, which means to be obsessed or addicted to something. While 沉澱 implies a healthy, reflective settling of thoughts, 沉迷 carries a negative connotation of being lost in an activity.
Grammar color guide
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Grammar guides
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
