Definition
滴滴答答 is an onomatopoeia that mimics a series of small, repeated sounds — most commonly the ticking of a clock or the dripping of water. You can use it as a standalone sound description (e.g., 滴滴答答的雨声 'the dripping sound of rain') or with the structural particle 地 (e.g., 钟滴滴答答地响 'the clock goes ticktock').
onomatopoeia
ticktock (sound of a clock)drip-drop (sound of dripping water)
Examples
- 滴滴答答。Qiáng shàng de zhōng dī dī dā de xiǎng zhe.The clock on the wall is ticking.
- 滴滴答答。Chuāng wài dī dī dā de yǔ shēng ràng wǒ shuì bù zháo.The sound of dripping rain outside the window kept me awake.
- 滴滴答答。Wūyán de shuǐ dī dī dī dā de luò xià lái.Water drops from the eaves are falling with a drip-drip sound.
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