瀑

bào, pù

暴 + 氵

Definitions

bào shower (rain)

pù waterfall

Etymology

Violent 暴 water 氵; 暴 also provides the pronunciation

About

瀑 is a phono-semantic compound combining the water radical 氵 (a variant of 水) and the character 暴 (bào, 'violent'). The 氵 radical indicates that the meaning relates to water, while 暴 provides the pronunciation and also suggests the forceful, sudden nature of the phenomenon. The character primarily means 'waterfall', vividly describing the image of water plunging abruptly from a steep height. Historically, it had a secondary pronunciation under which it could denote a sudden heavy downpour or water bursting forth, but 'waterfall' has always been its main and most common meaning.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这条瀑布很壮观。

Zhè tiáo pùbù hěn zhuàngguān.

This waterfall is very magnificent.

瀑布从高处落下。

Pùbù cóng gāo chù luò xià.

The waterfall falls from a high place.

我们去看了那个瀑布。

Wǒmen qù kàn le nàgè pùbù.

We went to see that waterfall.

瀑布的声音很大。

Pùbù de shēngyīn hěn dà.

The sound of the waterfall is very loud.

山里的瀑布非常美丽。

Shān lǐ de pùbù fēicháng měilì.

The waterfall in the mountains is very beautiful.

瀑布的水很清澈。

Pùbù de shuǐ hěn qīngchè.

The water of the waterfall is very clear.

瀑布下面有一个深潭。

Pùbù xiàmiàn yǒu yīgè shēn tán.

There is a deep pool below the waterfall.

他在瀑布旁写生。

Tā zài pùbù páng xiěshēng.

He is sketching by the waterfall.

Related Characters

Component: 暴

Component: 氵

瀑