noun HSK 4
Traditional 靜水
jìng shuǐ
still water · calm water · non-carbonated water

Meaning

静水 refers to water that is still or calm, without waves or movement. In modern usage, it commonly means non-carbonated or still water, as opposed to sparkling water. The term combines 静 (quiet, still) with 水 (water) to describe water in a tranquil state.

Usage

In restaurants and stores, 静水 is the standard term for ordering still/flat water as opposed to 气泡水 (carbonated water). The term is also used in literary contexts to describe peaceful bodies of water like calm lakes or ponds. It carries connotations of tranquility and peace.

Examples

  1. 01
    服务员,请给我一瓶静水
    Fúwùyuán, qǐng gěi píng jìng shuǐ.
    Waiter, please give me a bottle of still water.
  2. 02
    湖面如镜,静水无波。
    miàn jìng, jìng shuǐ .
    The lake surface is like a mirror, the still water has no waves.

Characters

Measure words

  • píng一瓶静水
  • bēi一杯静水

Common collocations

  • 一瓶静水
    píng jìng shuǐ
    a bottle of still water
  • 静水流深
    jìng shuǐ liú shēn
    still waters run deep (idiom)

Antonyms

Origin

The compound combines two basic characters: 静 originally depicted a palace scene with minimal conflict, evolving to mean 'quiet,' while 水 is a pictograph of flowing water. Together they create a natural image of undisturbed water.

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