About
The traditional character 撲, structured with the hand radical 扌 and the component 菐, originally denoted actions of striking or patting with the hand. Its meaning gradually expanded to encompass related motions such as pouncing, fluttering, or lightly applying something, as seen in terms like 扑灭 for extinguishing or 扑粉 for dusting powder. The simplified form 扑 replaced the phonetic element 菐 with 卜, a simpler component that also serves a phonetic function, while retaining the hand radical to continue indicating manual activity. Over time, the character's applications broadened from concrete physical actions to more abstract uses, including the idea of devoting effort or spreading something thinly.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
他扑灭了大火。
消防员扑灭火灾。
我扑打身上的蚊子。
香味扑鼻而来。
他扑空了，没找到人。
球员扑救险球。
孩子们在草地上扑蝴蝶。
他毫不犹豫地扑向歹徒。