Definitions

pǎo (verb) to run; to run away; to escape
pǎo (verb) to leak; to evaporate

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character "跑" is structured as a phono-semantic compound, combining the radical "足" indicating foot-related actions with the component "包" which provides its phonetic basis, and its earliest documented usage referred to the act of scratching or pawing at the ground, particularly by animals. Through extended application in written and spoken language, its meaning gradually broadened to emphasize rapid movement using the feet, ultimately solidifying into the modern sense of running, a semantic evolution that more directly aligns with the implications of its radical while maintaining the auditory cue from its phonetic element.

Example Sentences Hide

他每天早上去步。

Tā měitiān zǎoshang qù pǎobù.

He goes running every morning.

小猫从院子里掉了。

Xiǎo māo cóng yuànzi lǐ pǎodiào le.

The kitten ran away from the yard.

你能帮我腿买点东西吗?

Nǐ néng bāng wǒ pǎotuǐ mǎi diǎn dōngxi ma?

Can you help me run an errand to buy some things?

那辆红色车开得很快。

Nà liàng hóngsè pǎochē kāi de hěn kuài.

That red sports car is driving very fast.

他经常在外地业务。

Tā jīngcháng zài wàidì pǎo yèwù.

He often travels to other places for sales work.

为了找到答案,他遍了图书馆。

Wèile zhǎodào dá'àn, tā pǎobiàn le túshūguǎn.

In order to find the answer, he ran all over the library.

在成功之前,他只在剧组龙套。

Zài chénggōng zhīqián, tā zhǐ zài jùzǔ pǎo lóngtào.

Before his success, he only played minor roles in the film crew.

这个月他需要为新的研发项目四处

Zhège yuè tā xūyào wèi xīn de yánfā xiàngmù sìchù pǎo.

This month he needs to run around everywhere for the new research and development project.