暴

bào, pù

㳟 + 日

Definitions

bào (adjective) violent; cruel

bào (verb) expose; reveal

bào (adjective) sudden; abrupt

Etymology

Depicts two hands (共) laying out rice (米) to dry under the sun (日), representing the meaning "expose to sun", now written as 曝. The meaning later shifted to "expose", "injure", and "violent".

About

The character 暴 combines 日 (sun), 共 (togetherness), and a bottom component derived from 氺 (water), historically depicting hands exposing grain to the sun. Its original meaning, pronounced pù, is to dry things in the sun or expose them to sunlight, a sense that persists today. Over time, the meaning expanded to include suddenness, violence, and cruelty (bào), reflecting how intense, sudden sun exposure can be harsh and unforgiving.

Etymology Hide

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

外面正在下暴雨。

Wàimiàn zhèngzài xià bàoyǔ.

It is raining heavily outside.

暴力不能解决问题。

Bàolì bùnéng jiějué wèntí.

Violence cannot solve problems.

他的秘密暴露了。

Tā de mìmì bàolù le.

His secret was exposed.

他脾气很暴躁。

Tā píqì hěn bàozào.

He has a very irritable temper.

火山突然暴发了。

Huǒshān tūrán bàofā le.

The volcano suddenly erupted.

暴雪导致交通中断。

Bàoxuě dǎozhì jiāotōng zhōngduàn.

The blizzard caused traffic disruption.

听到消息后他暴怒不已。

Tīngdào xiāoxi hòu tā bàonù bùyǐ.

After hearing the news, he was furious endlessly.

商人通过投机获取暴利。

Shāngrén tōngguò tóujī huòqǔ bàolì.

Merchants obtain exorbitant profits through speculation.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 㳟

暴