涂

塗

tú

余 + 氵

HSK 3.0Level 7

Definitions

tú (verb) to apply; to smear; to paint

tú (verb) to scribble; to scrawl

tú (noun) road; path; way

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 氵 represents the meaning and 余 represents the sound. Simplified form of 塗.

Semantic: 氵 Phonetic: 余

About

The character 涂 is a phonosemantic compound: 氵 indicates meaning and 余 indicates sound. It is the simplified form of 塗, consolidating two originally distinct characters. The earlier 涂 was used for river names and as a surname. The traditional 塗 added the earth radical 土 to the water-radical and phonetic base, giving it the meanings of mud, mire, and the act of smearing or applying a wet coating. The simplification eliminated 土, streamlining the character so that 涂 now covers the original river name and surname along with smearing, painting, and scribbling out, with 氵 and 余 carrying all these meanings.

Etymology Hide

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我在纸上涂颜色。

Wǒ zài zhǐ shàng tú yánsè.

I am coloring on paper.

她涂抹防晒霜。

Tā túmǒ fángshàishuāng.

She applies sunscreen.

工人正在涂油漆。

Gōngrén zhèngzài tú yóuqī.

The worker is painting with paint.

孩子们喜欢涂鸦。

Háizimen xǐhuān túyā.

Children like to doodle.

他用刷子涂涂料。

Tā yòng shuāzi tú túliào.

He uses a brush to apply paint.

为了防止生锈，他涂了层油。

Wèile fángzhǐ shēngxiù, tā tú le céng yóu.

To prevent rust, he applied a layer of oil.

如果你涂得太厚，油漆会滴下来。

Rúguǒ nǐ tú dé tài hòu, yóuqī huì dī xiàlái.

If you apply it too thickly, the paint will drip.

艺术家用独特的技巧涂抹出美丽的画面。

Yìshùjiā yòng dútè de jìqiǎo túmǒ chū měilì de huàmiàn.

The artist uses unique techniques to daub out a beautiful picture.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 余

Component: 氵

涂