About
醭 (bú) is a phono-semantic compound: the left component 酉 (yǒu) gives the meaning "wine" or "alcohol", while the right component 菐 (pú) suggests the pronunciation. Its primary sense is the mold or scum that appears on the surface of alcoholic drinks, vinegar, or soy sauce when they spoil or ferment improperly. Over the centuries, the character's application widened slightly to include similar fungal growths or white powdery layers on various foods and damp surfaces, though its core association with spoiled liquids persists.
Report an issue
Flag incorrect definitions, examples, etymology, etc.