Definitions

(verb) to splash; to spill
(adjective) rough; coarse; brutish

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound. Simplified form of .

About

is a phono-semantic compound and the simplified form of . It combines the water radical , indicating an action involving liquid, with the phonetic (from , fā). The primary meaning is to splash, spill, or pour water aggressively, and it later gained the adjectival sense of fierce, unreasonable, or shrewish behavior. The simplification replaced the complex phonetic with , which approximates the sound, while retaining the water radical essential to the meaning.

Example Sentences Hide

水在地上。

Tā pō shuǐ zài dì shàng.

He splashes water on the ground.

孩子们水玩。

Háizimen pō shuǐ wán.

The children splash water for fun.

她活又可爱。

Tā huópō yòu kě'ài.

She is lively and cute.

不要冷水在地上。

Bùyào pō lěngshuǐ zài dì shàng.

Do not pour cold water on the ground.

墨山水画很美。

Pōmò shānshuǐhuà hěn měi.

Splash-ink landscape paintings are very beautiful.

辣地批评了那个计划。

Tā pōlà de pīpíng le nàgè jìhuà.

He sharply criticized that plan.

雨水洒在窗户上。

Yǔshuǐ pōsǎ zài chuānghu shàng.

Rainwater splashes on the window.

她的性格辣但心地善良。

Tā de xìnggé pōlà dàn xīndì shànliáng.

Her personality is sharp but kind-hearted.