Definitions

pēn (verb) to spray; to spurt; to spout
pèn (adjective) (of a smell) strong

Etymology phono-semantic

mouth

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character "喷", derived from its traditional form "噴", structurally integrates the mouth radical "口" with the phonetic component "賁", which was later simplified to "贝", reflecting its core association with actions of expulsion or emission from the mouth. Etymologically, it initially denoted physical acts like spitting, blowing, or gushing, often used to describe water spurting or steam issuing forth. Over time, its meaning expanded beyond literal emissions to encompass figurative outbursts, such as vehement speech or sudden criticism, thereby preserving the inherent notion of forceful release while adapting to more abstract applications. This semantic shift illustrates how the character's foundational concept of rapid expulsion has continuously shaped its usage across different contexts.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

泉很漂亮。

Pēnquán hěn piàoliang.

The fountain is very beautiful.

他在香水。

Tā zài pēn xiāngshuǐ.

He is spraying perfume.

不要太多水。

Bù yào pēn tài duō shuǐ.

Don't spray too much water.

汽车在黑烟。

Qìchē zài pēn hēi yān.

The car is emitting black smoke.

气式飞机很快。

Pēnqì shì fēijī hěn kuài.

Jet planes are very fast.

他在壶里装满了水。

Tā zài pēnhú lǐ zhuāngmǎn le shuǐ.

He filled the spray bottle with water.

火山发了大量的岩浆。

Huǒshān pēnfā le dàliàng de yánjiāng.

The volcano erupted a large amount of magma.

他愤怒地出了一连串的抱怨。

Tā fènnù de pēnchū le yīliánchuàn de bàoyuàn.

He angrily spouted a series of complaints.