涛

濤

tāo

寿 + 氵

Definitions

tāo (noun) big wave

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 氵 represents the meaning and 寿 represents the sound. Simplified form of 濤.

Semantic: 氵 Phonetic: 寿

About

涛 is the simplified form of 濤, a phono-semantic compound. The water radical 氵 on the left signals the meaning of water and fluid movement, while the right component 寿 (abbreviated from 壽) contributes the sound, its original sense of "longevity" not entering the character's meaning. It describes large, rolling waves, particularly those of oceans, turbulent rivers, or stormy seas. In literary and poetic usage, the image of surging water extends metaphorically to powerful momentum, overwhelming historical forces, roaring sounds like wind through pines, and tumultuous events.

Etymology Hide

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

波涛非常大。

bō tāo fēi cháng dà

The waves are very big.

涛声很响亮。

tāo shēng hěn xiǎng liàng

The sound of waves is very loud.

大海的波涛不断。

dà hǎi de bō tāo bù duàn

The waves of the sea are continuous.

他听着涛声入睡。

tā tīng zhe tāo shēng rù shuì

He falls asleep listening to the sound of waves.

波涛拍打着岩石。

bō tāo pāi dǎ zhe yán shí

The waves are beating against the rocks.

清晨的海涛声很美。

qīng chén de hǎi tāo shēng hěn měi

The sound of sea waves in the early morning is very beautiful.

面对生活的波涛，他从不退缩。

miàn duì shēng huó de bō tāo, tā cóng bù tuì suō

Facing the waves of life, he never retreats.

在暴风雨中，波涛变得更加狂暴。

zài bào fēng yǔ zhōng, bō tāo biàn dé gèng jiā kuáng bào

In the storm, the waves become even more violent.

Related Characters

Component: 寿

Component: 氵

涛