Definitions

bāo (verb) to peel; to skin
(verb) to peel; to skin; to shell

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound. Simplified form of .

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character "剥" has a traditional form written as "剝", which visually clarifies its original composition of "录" on the left, a component historically associated with the idea of peeling or carving, combined with "刂" (knife) on the right, directly indicating a cutting action. This structure points to an initial meaning centered on the physical act of stripping off an outer layer, such as skin from fruit or bark from a tree. Over time, the application of this term expanded beyond the literal to encompass more figurative or forceful forms of deprivation, such as peeling away by exploitation or dismantling something layer by layer. The modern form "剥" is a graphical simplification that retains the essential "knife" radical while streamlining the left-hand component, yet the core concept of removal through separation remains consistent across its usage.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

了一个苹果。

Tā bāo le yī gè píngguǒ.

She peeled an apple.

弟弟喜欢花生。

Dìdi xǐhuān bāo huāshēng.

Younger brother likes peeling peanuts.

橘子皮要小心。

Bāo júzi pí yào xiǎoxīn.

Peeling an orange requires caution.

开了那个包裹。

Tā bō kāi le nàgè bāoguǒ.

He stripped open that package.

削工人是不对的。

Bōxuē gōngrén shì bù duì de.

Exploiting workers is not right.

去外衣,他看到了一封信。

Bō qù wàiyī, tā kàndào le yī fēng xìn.

After stripping off the outer wrapping, he saw a letter.

由于削,工人们举行了罢工。

Yóuyú bōxuē, gōngrénmen jǔxíng le bàgōng.

Due to exploitation, the workers went on strike.

在资本主义社会,削现象常常存在。

Zài zīběn zhǔyì shèhuì, bōxuē xiànxiàng chángcháng cúnzài.

In capitalist society, the phenomenon of exploitation often exists.