捅

tǒng

扌 + 甬

HSK 3.0Level 7

Definitions

tǒng (verb) to stab; to poke

tǒng (verb) to disclose

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 扌 represents the meaning and 甬 represents the sound.

Semantic: 扌 Phonetic: 甬

About

捅 (tǒng) is a phono-semantic compound. Its left component 扌 is the combining form of 手 'hand', signaling an action performed with the hand or a hand-held tool. The right component 甬 (yǒng) indicates the pronunciation. The character's primary meaning is to poke or jab, usually with a finger, a stick, or another pointed object. Over time, it gained the metaphorical sense of disclosing or exposing something hidden, much like 'stirring up trouble' or 'poking a hole in a secret'.

Etymology Hide

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

请不要捅那个洞。

Qǐng bùyào tǒng nàgè dòng.

Please do not poke that hole.

他用棍子捅了捅树。

Tā yòng gùnzi tǒng le tǒng shù.

He poked the tree with a stick.

小猫喜欢捅毛线球。

Xiǎo māo xǐhuān tǒng máoxiàn qiú.

The kitten likes to poke the yarn ball.

小心别捅到自己的手。

Xiǎoxīn bié tǒng dào zìjǐ de shǒu.

Be careful not to poke your own hand.

他捅破了气球，吓我一跳。

Tā tǒng pò le qìqiú, xià wǒ yī tiào.

He popped the balloon, startling me.

记者捅出了公司的丑闻。

Jìzhě tǒng chū le gōngsī de chǒuwén.

The journalist exposed the company's scandal.

这次调查捅出了许多隐藏的问题。

Zhè cì diàochá tǒng chū le xǔduō yǐncáng de wèntí.

This investigation revealed many hidden problems.

他的发言捅破了表面的平静，引发激烈讨论。

Tā de fāyán tǒng pò le biǎomiàn de píngjìng, yǐnfā jīliè tǎolùn.

His speech pierced the surface calm, triggering intense discussion.

Related Characters

Component: 扌

Component: 甬

捅