Definitions

(noun) paste; glue
(adjective) muddled; confused
(verb) to make a living
(verb) to get burned (of food)

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character 糊, structured with the semantic component 米 for rice and the phonetic component 胡, originally denoted a paste or adhesive substance derived from cooked grains. Its meaning expanded from this specific culinary reference to encompass any viscous, glue-like material, and it later developed metaphorical uses describing visual or conceptual indistinctness, as seen in the compound 模糊 for blurriness. The character's form, with 米 indicating its relation to food consistency and 胡 providing phonetic guidance, has supported this semantic shift from concrete paste to abstract obscurity.

Example Sentences Hide

他今天很涂。

Tā jīntiān hěn hútu.

He is very confused today.

这碗粥煮了。

Zhè wǎn zhōu zhǔ hú le.

This bowl of porridge is burnt.

照片看起来有点模

Zhàopiàn kàn qǐlái yǒudiǎn móhu.

The photo looks a bit blurry.

他把墙上了报纸。

Tā bǎ qiáng hú shàngle bàozhǐ.

He pasted newspaper onto the wall.

他勉强口,生活艰辛。

Tā miǎnqiǎng húkǒu, shēnghuó jiānxīn.

He barely makes a living, and life is tough.

别用这种借口来弄我。

Bié yòng zhè zhǒng jièkǒu lái hùnong wǒ.

Don't use that kind of excuse to fool me.

艺术家正在仔细地裱这幅画。

Yìshùjiā zhèngzài zǐxì de biǎohú zhè fú huà.

The artist is carefully mounting this painting.

复杂的行政程序常使人陷入文牍主义的涂账里。

Fùzá de xíngzhèng chéngxù cháng shǐ rén xiànrù wéndú zhǔyì de hútuzhàng lǐ.

Complex administrative procedures often mire people in the confusing mess of bureaucratism.