膏

gāo, gào

月 + 高

Definitions

gāo (noun) ointment; cream; paste

gào (verb) to apply (cream or ointment); to grease

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. ⺼ represents the meaning and 高 represents the sound.

Semantic: ⺼ Phonetic: 高

About

膏 is a phono-semantic compound with ⺼, a variant of 肉 'meat', at the bottom indicating the meaning, and 高 on top as the phonetic. In its earliest texts, it referred to animal fat, grease, or rich, oily extracts from meat, highly valued for their nutritional and practical benefits. The meaning broadened to include any thick, viscous liquid, paste, or semi-solid matter. Modern Chinese uses the character for medicinal ointments, herbal plasters, cosmetic creams, rich edible pastes, and fertile, nutrient-dense soils.

Etymology Hide

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我每天用牙膏刷牙。

Wǒ měitiān yòng yágāo shuāyá.

I use toothpaste to brush my teeth every day.

这种药膏治疗湿疹。

Zhè zhǒng yàogāo zhìliáo shīzhěn.

This kind of ointment treats eczema.

奶奶经常贴膏药。

Nǎinai jīngcháng tiē gāoyao.

Grandma often applies plasters.

他的腿上打了石膏。

Tā de tuǐ shàng dǎle shígāo.

His leg is in a plaster cast.

膏状物容易涂抹。

Gāo zhuàng wù róngyì túmǒ.

Paste-like substances are easy to apply.

这种牙膏含有天然成分。

Zhè zhǒng yágāo hányǒu tiānrán chéngfèn.

This toothpaste contains natural ingredients.

医生开了消炎药膏给他。

Yīshēng kāile xiāoyán yàogāo gěi tā.

The doctor prescribed anti-inflammatory ointment for him.

膏剂的保质期通常较长。

Gāojì de bǎozhīqī tōngcháng jiào cháng.

The shelf life of ointments is usually relatively long.

Related Characters

Component: 月

Component: 高

膏