Meanings of 潑
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 潑
Podcast: 潑
Podcast: 潑
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 潑
潑 (pō) vs 洒 (sǎ) — use 潑 for a more careless or vigorous action, while 洒 emphasizes a more controlled or deliberate pouring.
When using 潑, be cautious of context; it often implies a lack of precision or care in the action. It is more informal and can be used in casual conversations rather than formal writing. A common collocation is 潑水 (pō shuǐ), meaning 'to splash water.'
Although 潑 is not included in the HSK lists, it connects well with other water-related characters at beginner levels, such as 水 (water) and 游 (to swim). Focus on pronunciation and usage in everyday scenarios to reinforce your understanding.
Learners often confuse 潑 with other similar sounding characters like 拋 (pāo, to throw), leading to incorrect usage. Remember that 潑 specifically involves liquid, while 拋 relates to throwing something away.
Pronunciation of 潑
Drill the tone of 潑 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Etymology of 潑
Simplified form of 潑. Phonosemantic compound. 氵 represents the meaning and 發 represents the sound.
To send forth 發 water 氵
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 潑
Simplified form of 潑. Phonosemantic compound. 氵 represents the meaning and 發 represents the sound.
- 1The giveawayTo send forth 發 water 氵
- 2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 潑? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 潑?
Decomposition of 潑
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 潑?
How to say to pour, to splash, to sprinkle, to water in Chinese
“to pour, to splash, to sprinkle, to water” in Chinese is潑
The character 潑 (pō) means to pour, splash, or sprinkle liquid. It is commonly used in contexts involving water or other liquids, such as watering plants or splashing water around. The nuance suggests a somewhat careless or vigorous action, often leading to messiness.
When to use 潑
When using 潑, be cautious of context; it often implies a lack of precision or care in the action. It is more informal and can be used in casual conversations rather than formal writing. A common collocation is 潑水 (pō shuǐ), meaning 'to splash water.'
潑 or something close to it
潑 (pō) vs 洒 (sǎ) — use 潑 for a more careless or vigorous action, while 洒 emphasizes a more controlled or deliberate pouring.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 潑 with other similar sounding characters like 拋 (pāo, to throw), leading to incorrect usage. Remember that 潑 specifically involves liquid, while 拋 relates to throwing something away.
Write 潑
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 潑 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Word Family of 潑
Compound Meaning
What does 活泼 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 潑
While it primarily refers to liquids like water, 潑 can also be used metaphorically for other liquids in certain contexts.
Jason Recommends
Not sure what to learn after 潑?
Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.