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皰 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
皰pàoacnex, 10 strokes, radical 皮
pào(pao4)pao T4
  1. 1acne
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March 24, 2026

皰pào(pao4)

皰 (pào) refers to acne or pimple, specifically a type of skin blemish that results from clogged pores. It is commonly used in medical contexts or discussions about skin care. The term is particularly relevant among young people and in dermatological discussions.

Strokes10Radical皮
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, skincare is highly valued, and discussions about acne often encompass not only health but also beauty standards. The prevalence of acne among youth is often linked to stress and diet, making it a common topic among young adults.

Memory tip

Imagine a pimple on your face that looks like a small, round bubble (皰) filled with pus. The character 皰 resembles a bubble (the top part) with a hint of a skin issue (the lower part), linking the visual to its pronunciation 'pào'.

Meanings of 皰

pào(pao4)
1acne
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 皰

皰Simplified
10Strokes
皮Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 皰

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Podcast: 皰

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AI study notes for 皰

Quick Contrast

痘 (dòu) refers specifically to acne, often implying a more severe form, while 皰 (pào) is a broader term for any type of pimple or blemish.

Usage Notes

皰 is a more formal term and may not be used in casual conversations about skin. Common collocations include '青春皰' (youth acne) and '皮肤皰' (skin acne). Be careful with tones; a wrong tone could change the meaning entirely.

HSK Study Tips

Although 皰 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it can be helpful for students studying health-related vocabulary. Focus on related terms like 皮肤 (pífū, skin) and 痘痘 (dòudòu, pimple) to enhance your understanding.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 皰 with 痘痘, leading to incorrect usage in casual contexts. For example, saying '我有皰' (Wǒ yǒu pào) in a casual setting may sound overly formal; instead, use '我有痘痘' (Wǒ yǒu dòudòu).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 皰

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Etymology of 皰

Formation typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 疒 represents the meaning and 包 represents the sound. Simplified form of 皰.

Memory hint

skin

Semantic (meaning)皮
+
Phonetic (sound)包
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

皰 = 皮 + 包. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 皰

IDS Structure⿰皮包
皰Full character
=
皮Pi2
left
包Bao1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 皰?

How to say acne in Chinese

“acne” in Chinese is皰pào

皰 (pào) refers to acne or pimple, specifically a type of skin blemish that results from clogged pores. It is commonly used in medical contexts or discussions about skin care. The term is particularly relevant among young people and in dermatological discussions.

When to use 皰

皰 is a more formal term and may not be used in casual conversations about skin. Common collocations include '青春皰' (youth acne) and '皮肤皰' (skin acne). Be careful with tones; a wrong tone could change the meaning entirely.

皰 or something close to it

痘 (dòu) refers specifically to acne, often implying a more severe form, while 皰 (pào) is a broader term for any type of pimple or blemish.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 皰 with 痘痘, leading to incorrect usage in casual contexts. For example, saying '我有皰' (Wǒ yǒu pào) in a casual setting may sound overly formal; instead, use '我有痘痘' (Wǒ yǒu dòudòu).

Write 皰

皰

Practice writing 皰 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Word Family of 皰

Words containing this character4
疱疹blister皰疹
疱pàopimple皰
水疱blister水皰
天疱疮(medicine) pemphigus天皰瘡
Exercise 1 of 4

Words with 皰

What does 疱疹 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 皰

皰 (pào) is a more formal term for acne, while 痘痘 (dòudòu) is more colloquial and commonly used.

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