About
The character 泡, formed by the water radical 氵 combined with the phonetic element 包, structurally integrates the concept of fluidity with the notion of wrapping or enclosing, thereby etymologically pointing to the formation of bubbles as water envelops air. Historically, its primary meaning centered on physical bubbles and froth, but through semantic extension, it gradually came to denote the action of steeping or immersing objects in liquid, as seen in verbs like 浸泡. This evolution from a noun to a verb retained the core idea of something being surrounded by water, while later metaphorical uses, such as in 泡沫 for economic bubbles, further abstracted the character to represent anything insubstantial or transient, broadening its application beyond literal liquids.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
我喜欢吹泡泡。
他每天都会泡茶。
我晚上经常吃泡面。
她喜欢泡热水澡。
把衣服浸泡在水中。
他会泡很好的咖啡。
他们周末去泡酒吧。
我们的计划泡汤了。