沃

wò

夭 + 氵

Definitions

wò (adjective) fertile; rich

wò (verb) to irrigate; to water

wò (verb) to wash (of river)

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 氵 represents the meaning and 夭 represents the sound.

Semantic: 氵 Phonetic: 夭

About

The character 沃 is a phono-semantic compound: the water radical 氵 on the left indicates a connection to moisture or liquid, while the component 夭 on the right serves as the phonetic marker. Its earliest meaning referred to irrigating land or watering soil for agriculture. Through consistent association with well-watered farmland, the primary sense shifted to describe the soil itself, coming to signify fertility, richness, and lushness in both the earth and its vegetation.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这里的土地很肥沃。

Zhèlǐ de tǔdì hěn féiwò.

The land here is very fertile.

农民们在肥沃的田野上耕作。

Nóngmínmen zài féiwò de tiányě shàng gēngzuò.

The farmers are working the land in the fertile fields.

这条大河滋养着广阔的沃野。

Zhè tiáo dàhé zīyǎng zhe guǎngkuò de wòyě.

This great river nourishes the vast fertile land.

这场春雨及时沃灌了干渴的麦田。

Zhè chǎng chūnyǔ jíshí wòguàn le gānkě de màitián.

This spring rain timely irrigated the thirsty wheat field.

公司投入大量资金来培育沃土市场。

Gōngsī tóurù dàliàng zījīn lái péiyù wòtǔ shìchǎng.

The company invests a lot of money to cultivate a fertile market.

经过多年改良，这片滩涂变成了沃壤。

Jīngguò duōnián gǎiliáng, zhè piàn tāntú biàn chéngle wòrǎng.

After years of improvement, this tidal flat has become fertile soil.

沃尔玛是全球最大的连锁零售商之一。

Wò'ěrmǎ shì quánqiú zuìdà de liánsuǒ lǐngshòu shāng zhī yī.

Walmart is one of the world's largest chain retailers.

他致力于用知识沃灌年轻一代的心灵。

Tā zhìlì yú yòng zhīshi wòguàn niánqīng yīdài de xīnlíng.

He is devoted to irrigating the minds of the younger generation with knowledge.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 夭

Component: 氵

沃