Definitions

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

Etymology

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

About

The character "泼" exists in a simplified form, with its traditional counterpart being "潑". Its structure combines the water radical (氵, derived from 水) with the component "發" (fā), which originally conveyed the idea of shooting forth or emitting, thus forming a semantic compound suggesting the action of water being cast out or scattered. The core meaning originated as "to splash water" or "to sprinkle", a sense still present in words like 泼水 (pōshuǐ). Over time, this literal sense of vigorous, uncontrolled water movement was applied figuratively to describe human behavior, giving rise to meanings such as "rude and unreasonable" or "shrewish", as seen in 撒泼 (sāpō). This metaphorical extension also yielded a positive connotation of boldness and unrestrained vitality, captured in the term 活泼 (huópō), meaning lively or vivacious.

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.