Definitions

pāng rushing (water)

Etymology phono-semantic

water

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

is a phono-semantic compound that combines the water radical , which signals the semantic field of water and liquids, with the phonetic . Its primary sense is water flowing abundantly, as in torrential rain or rushing streams. From this literal image of heavy rainfall, the meaning broadened to refer to anything vast, extensive, or overwhelmingly abundant. In literary contexts, it often describes copious tears or a widespread, imposing presence.

Etymology Hide

Bronze etymology image
Bronze Early Spring and Autumn (~700 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Seal etymology image
Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern