stagnant water; stagnant situation
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
2 senses · 6 examplesnoun
stagnant water; still water in ponds or lakes that does not flow
Refers literally to water that is not circulating, often found in enclosed bodies of water.
Zhè这
tán潭
sǐ死
shuǐ水
sàn散
fā发
zhe着
nán难
wén闻
de的
qì气
wèi味
。
This pool of stagnant water emits a foul odor.
Xià下
shuǐ水
dào道
lǐ里
de的
sǐ死
shuǐ水
róng容
yì易
zī滋
shēng生
wén蚊
chóng虫
。
Stagnant water in the sewers easily breeds mosquitoes.
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Chí池
táng塘
rú如
guǒ果
bù不
liú流
tōng通
，
jiù就
huì会
biàn变
chéng成
sǐ死
shuǐ水
。
If a pond does not circulate, it will become stagnant water.
noun
a stagnant situation or place that sees no change or development over a long time
Figurative usage, often used in the idiom '一潭死水' (a pool of stagnant water) to describe a lifeless organization, market, or environment that lacks vitality.
Nà那
lǐ里
bìng并
bù不
shì是
yī一
tán潭
sǐ死
shuǐ水
，
shí实
jì际
shang上
biàn变
huà化
hěn很
dà大
。
It is not a stagnant pool there; in fact, great changes have taken place.
Zhè这
jiā家
gōng公
sī司
guǎn管
lǐ理
jiāng僵
huà化
，
jiǎn简
zhí直
shì是
yī一
tán潭
sǐ死
shuǐ水
。
This company's management is rigid; it is simply a pool of stagnant water.
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Wǒ我
men们
yào要
yǐn引
rù入
xīn新
jī机
zhì制
，
fáng防
zhǐ止
shì市
chǎng场
biàn变
chéng成
sǐ死
shuǐ水
。
We need to introduce new mechanisms to prevent the market from becoming stagnant.