Definitions

(noun) foam; suds

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character 沫, meaning foam or froth, is composed of the water radical (氵) on the left and the component 末 on the right, which signifies "tip" or "fine powder", together forming a semantic compound suggesting fine particles on water. Its traditional form is identical. In early classical usage, such as in the "Book of Songs", it could refer to the surface of water or was used as part of a river's name, but its core association with foam, as in saliva or spray, was established early and became its dominant meaning. Over time, the earlier geographical and broader aquatic connotations faded, solidifying its modern sense of a light, bubbly substance or a fine spray.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

牛奶上有泡

Niúnǎi shàng yǒu pàomò.

There is foam on the milk.

肥皂很容易冲洗。

Féizào mò hěn róngyì chōngxǐ.

Soap foam is easy to rinse off.

他吐了一口唾

Tā tǔle yī kǒu tuòmo.

He spat a mouthful of saliva.

海浪拍打出白色泡

Hǎilàng pāidǎ chū báisè pàomò.

The waves crash to produce white foam.

刷牙时,牙膏会飞溅。

Shuāyá shí, yágāo mò huì fēijiàn.

When brushing teeth, toothpaste foam may splatter.

咖啡的泡很快就消失了。

Kāfēi de pàomò hěn kuài jiù xiāoshīle.

The foam on the coffee disappeared quickly.

如果搅拌太快,就会产生太多泡

Rúguǒ jiǎobàn tài kuài, jiù huì chǎnshēng tàiduō pàomò.

If you stir too quickly, it will produce too much foam.

经济泡破裂后,许多公司倒闭了。

Jīngjì pàomò pòliè hòu, xǔduō gōngsī dǎobìle.

After the economic bubble burst, many companies went bankrupt.