搏

bó

尃 + 扌

Definitions

bó (verb) to fight; to combat

bó (verb) to seize; to grab

bó (verb) to beat (of heart)

Etymology

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

Semantic: 扌 Phonetic: 尃

About

The character 搏 is a phono-semantic compound, combining the semantic radical 扌 with the phonetic component 尃. The semantic radical 扌 suggests actions performed with the hands, striking, grappling, or struggling in close-quarters combat. The phonetic component 尃 determines the sound. Originally, the character meant hand-to-hand fighting or wrestling. In modern Chinese, 搏 is widely used to describe the rhythmic beating or pulsating of the heart, and it also conveys the abstract notion of striving aggressively to achieve a difficult goal.

Etymology Hide

Bronze Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)

Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Cao Wei (Three Kingdoms: 222-280 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

运动员在赛场上奋力拼搏。

Yùndòngyuán zài sàichǎng shang fènlì pīnbó.

Athletes strive hard on the field.

那头雄狮正在与猎物搏斗。

Nà tóu xióngshī zhèngzài yǔ lièwù bódòu.

That male lion is struggling with its prey.

他为梦想拼搏的精神令人感动。

Tā wèi mèngxiǎng pīnbó de jīngshén lìng rén gǎndòng.

His spirit of fighting for his dreams is touching.

这位拳击手擅长近距离搏击。

Zhè wèi quánjíshǒu shàncháng jìnlíjù bójī.

This boxer is good at close-range combat.

在商海中搏击需要智慧和勇气。

Zài shānghǎi zhōng bójī xūyào zhìhuì hé yǒngqì.

Navigating the business world requires wisdom and courage.

我们必须与时间搏斗，抢救伤员。

Wǒmen bìxū yǔ shíjiān bódòu, qiǎngjiù shāngyuán.

We must race against time to rescue the wounded.

他用尽全身力气与激流搏斗着。

Tā yòng jìn quánshēn lìqì yǔ jīliú bódòuzhe.

He used all his strength to fight against the rapids.

人生的意义在于不断拼搏与超越自我。

Rénshēng de yìyì zàiyú búduàn pīnbó yǔ chāoyuè zìwǒ.

The meaning of life lies in constantly striving and surpassing oneself.

Related Characters

Component: 尃

Component: 扌

搏