表

錶
biǎo
龶 + 𧘇
HSK 3.0Level 4

Definitions

biǎo (verb) to show; to express; to demonstrate
biǎo (noun) surface; exterior
biǎo (noun) table; chart; form
biǎo (noun) watch; clock
biǎo (noun) meter; gauge

Etymology

Depicts clothes (衣) made from fur (毛), typically the outermost layer of clothing. In simplified Chinese 表 is also used to mean "wristwatch", while in traditional Chinese this meaning is written with a separate character 錶.

About

The character 表 is an ideogrammic compound combining 衣 (yī, clothing) and 毛 (máo, hair or fur), originally depicting a fur garment worn on the outside. This association with outerwear led to its primary meaning of "exterior" or "surface", contrasting with the interior. From the concept of outward display, the sense extended to verbs like "to express" or "to manifest", and eventually to nouns for visual displays such as charts, tables, and timepieces like watches.

Example Sentences Hide

这块表非常准。

Zhè kuài biǎo fēicháng zhǔn.

This watch is very accurate.

他的表现很出色。

Tā de biǎoxiàn hěn chūsè.

His performance is outstanding.

我买了一块新手表。

Wǒ mǎi le yí kuài xīn shǒubiǎo.

I bought a new wristwatch.

我代表大家表示感谢。

Wǒ dàibiǎo dàjiā biǎoshì gǎnxiè.

I express gratitude on behalf of everyone.

老师表扬了我的进步。

Lǎoshī biǎoyáng le wǒ de jìnbù.

The teacher praised my progress.

请填写这张申请表。

Qǐng tiánxiě zhè zhāng shēnqǐng biǎo.

Please fill out this application form.

从表面上看这很简单。

Cóng biǎomiàn shàng kàn zhè hěn jiǎndān.

On the surface, this looks very simple.

实验结果用图表表示。

Shíyàn jiéguǒ yòng túbiǎo biǎoshì.

The experimental results are represented with a chart.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

婊 裱 脿 俵 錶

Component: 龶

青 责 素 毒 麦 堇 責 菫 靑

Component: 𧘇

农 衣 衰 哀 袁 囊 衷 裹 襄 亵 褒 袤 衮 裒

Example Words

代表 发表 表情 表态 表演 表现 表示 表达 列表 外表 手表 老表 表哥 表妹 表姐 表弟 表彰 表扬 表明 表白 表皮 表面 钟表 一览表