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彻底地
chè dǐ de
thoroughly
他彻底地改变了自己的生活方式。
He thoroughly changed his lifestyle.
formal
In a complete and exhaustive manner; without exception.
我们需要彻底地清理这个房间。
We need to clean this room thoroughly.
她彻底地研究了这个问题。
She studied this problem thoroughly.
Used to emphasize that something is done completely or in every aspect. Often used in formal or written contexts.
Pro Tip
When to use '彻底地'
Use '彻底地' when you want to emphasize that an action is done completely, with no exceptions or leftovers. It is stronger than '完全地' (completely) and implies a thorough, exhaustive process. For example, '彻底地清理房间' (thoroughly clean the room) suggests cleaning every corner, not just the visible surfaces.
Gold Rule
Adverbial '地' in Chinese
The character '地' (de) is used to turn adjectives into adverbs in Chinese. It is placed after the adjective to modify a verb. For example, '快乐' (happy) + '地' = '快乐地' (happily). Not all adjectives can take '地', but '彻底' (thorough) is one that commonly does.
Word Origin
The word '彻底' originates from classical Chinese, combining '彻' (meaning 'penetrate' or 'thorough') and '底' (meaning 'bottom' or 'fundamental'). The suffix '地' (de) is an adverbial marker in modern Chinese grammar. Historically, '彻底' was used in philosophical texts to describe penetrating to the root or essence of a matter.
Usage Notes
1. '彻底地' is more formal than '彻底' and is typically used in written or formal spoken Chinese. In casual speech, '彻底' alone is more common. 2. The adverbial '地' can sometimes be omitted in informal contexts without changing the meaning significantly. 3. Avoid overusing '彻底地' in contexts where partial completion is implied, as it emphasizes completeness.
Word Breakdown
彻
penetrate, thorough
root底
bottom, fundamental
root地
adverbial marker
suffix汉英词典