瓢

piáo

瓜 + 票

Frequency#3735

Definitions

piáo dipper; ladle

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 瓜 represents the meaning and 票 represents the sound.

Semantic: 瓜 Phonetic: 票

About

The character "瓢" is constructed from the phonetic component "票" and the semantic component "瓜", meaning gourd, directly indicating its original sense as a ladle made from a halved and dried gourd shell. While its primary meaning remains a ladle or dipper, over centuries its usage extended to refer to similar utensils made from materials other than gourd, such as wood or metal, yet the etymological link to the gourd is still evident in its form. The character has maintained this composition without alteration, and no simplified form exists.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我用水瓢舀水。

Wǒ yòng shuǐpiáo yǎo shuǐ.

I use a water dipper to scoop water.

奶奶用瓢盛汤。

Nǎinai yòng piáo chéng tāng.

Grandma uses a ladle to serve soup.

他在厨房里拿了一个瓢。

Tā zài chúfáng lǐ nále yī gè piáo.

He took a ladle in the kitchen.

这个木头瓢很轻。

Zhège mùtou piáo hěn qīng.

This wooden ladle is very light.

花园里有许多瓢虫。

Huāyuán lǐ yǒu xǔduō piáochóng.

There are many ladybugs in the garden.

如果你需要水，可以用那个瓢。

Rúguǒ nǐ xūyào shuǐ, kěyǐ yòng nàge piáo.

If you need water, you can use that ladle.

他用瓢浇水，花都活了。

Tā yòng piáo jiāo shuǐ, huā dōu huó le.

He watered with a ladle, and the flowers all revived.

虽然瓢看起来简单，但很有用。

Suīrán piáo kàn qǐlái jiǎndān, dàn hěn yǒuyòng.

Although the ladle looks simple, it is very useful.

Related Characters

Component: 瓜

Component: 票

瓢