Definition
上水 (shàng shuǐ) is a separable verb-object compound (离合词) meaning 'to sail upstream' or 'to add water' (to a radiator, engine, or to vegetables/fruit to keep them fresh). It can also function as a noun meaning 'upper reaches (of a river)'. When used as a verb, the two syllables can split to insert aspect markers, measure words, or complements — for example, 上了一次水 'added water once' or 上了水 'has added water'.
v.o.
to sail upstreamto add water (to a radiator, engine, or similar)to sprinkle water (on vegetables, fruit, etc. to keep them fresh)
Examples
- 上水。Zhè sōu huòlún zhèngzài Shàng shuǐ.This cargo ship is sailing upstream.
- 。Tā gěi qìchē shuǐxiāng shàng le yí cì shuǐ.He added water to the car radiator once.
- 上水。Tā měitiān gěi shūcài Shàng shuǐ.He sprinkles water on the vegetables every day.
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