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泼 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
泼
pō
to splash
HSK 6, v, 8 strokes, radical 氵, rank #6587, Hard
泼
pō
to spill
HSK 6, v, 8 strokes, radical 氵, rank #6587, Hard
泼
pō
rough and coarse
HSK 6, v, 8 strokes, radical 氵, rank #6587, Hard
泼
pō
brutish
HSK 6, v, 8 strokes, radical 氵, rank #6587, Hard
泼
pō
to pour, to splash, to sprinkle, to water
HSK 6, v, 8 strokes, radical 氵, rank #6587, Hard
pō(po1)po T1
1to splash
2to spill
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March 24, 2026
泼(潑)pō(po1)
The character 泼 (pō) primarily means 'to splash' or 'to spill', often used in contexts related to water or liquids. It can also describe actions that are rough or brutish, and may convey a sense of forcefulness or lack of finesse. This term is frequently used in both literal and metaphorical contexts to indicate a messy or careless action.
Strokes8Radical氵Frequency#6587DifficultyHard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, the act of splashing water can symbolize both celebration and chaos, often seen during festivals like the Water Splashing Festival in Yunnan, where water is joyfully splashed as a form of blessing.
Memory tip
Imagine a big bucket of water being splashed around wildly, creating a chaotic scene. The character 泼 looks like a splash—water spilling over the side—while the pronunciation 'pō' sounds like the splash of water hitting the ground. Picture a messy child throwing water everywhere when you think of this character.
Meanings of 泼
pō(po1)
1to splash
2to spill
Exercise 1 of 3
By ear
Play it, then pick what 泼 means.
About 泼
泼Simplified
潑Traditional
8Strokes
氵Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#6587Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L6IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRB2
Podcast: 泼
Podcast: 泼
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AI study notes for 泼
Quick Contrast
泼 (pō) vs 撒 (sā) — use 泼 for actions involving splashing or spilling liquids, while 撒 refers to scattering or dispersing small items, like seeds.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 泼 with similar verbs such as 倒 (dào), which means 'to pour' but has a more controlled connotation. This word is more informal and can be used in both casual and descriptive settings. Be careful with the tone; using the wrong tone can change the meaning entirely.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 6 word, 泼 connects well with other verbs describing actions and movements. Students should focus on its use in idiomatic expressions and practice combining it with other words to describe scenes involving water or chaos, enhancing their descriptive skills.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use 泼 in a context where a more precise verb like 倒 (dào) would be more appropriate. For example, saying '我泼水' (wǒ pō shuǐ) might imply a chaotic action instead of simply pouring water. Use '我倒水' (wǒ dào shuǐ) for a more controlled pouring action.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 泼
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Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
The character 泼 (pō) primarily means 'to splash' or 'to spill', often used in contexts related to water or liquids. It can also describe actions that are rough or brutish, and may convey a sense of forcefulness or lack of finesse. This term is frequently used in both literal and metaphorical contexts to indicate a messy or careless action.
When to use 泼
Learners often confuse 泼 with similar verbs such as 倒 (dào), which means 'to pour' but has a more controlled connotation. This word is more informal and can be used in both casual and descriptive settings. Be careful with the tone; using the wrong tone can change the meaning entirely.
泼 or something close to it
泼 (pō) vs 撒 (sā) — use 泼 for actions involving splashing or spilling liquids, while 撒 refers to scattering or dispersing small items, like seeds.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mistakenly use 泼 in a context where a more precise verb like 倒 (dào) would be more appropriate. For example, saying '我泼水' (wǒ pō shuǐ) might imply a chaotic action instead of simply pouring water. Use '我倒水' (wǒ dào shuǐ) for a more controlled pouring action.
Write 泼
泼
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Practice writing 泼 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 泼
泼 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 5 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
这是他行文风格轻松活____的作品中最出色的作品之一。
It is one of his finest works in a lighter vein.
Common confusions with 泼
泼vs波
bō
Similar pronunciation but different meaning.
泼vs泪
lèi
Similar shape but different meaning.
Exercise 1 of 1
Which one
Which one means “to splash”?
or
Usage Notes for 泼
Misuse in Formal ContextsCommon Error
Avoid using 泼 in overly formal writing; it is often considered colloquial.
1
在正式场合不应使用“泼”。
Do not use '泼' in formal occasions.
Exercise 1 of 1
Get it right
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
在正式场合不应使用“____”。
Do not use '泼' in formal occasions.
Example sentences for 泼 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
这是他行文风格轻松活泼的作品中最出色的作品之一。
zhè shì tā xíng wén fēnggé qīngsōng huópō de zuòpǐn zhōng zuì chūsè de zuòpǐn zhīyī。
It is one of his finest works in a lighter vein.
2
滚烫的液体泼在水泥地面上又溅了起来。
gǔn tàng de yètǐ pō zài shuǐní dìmiàn shàng yòu jiàn le qǐlái。
The hot liquid splashed down on the concrete and rebounded.
3
索尔特和佩帕是两个来自皇后区的精明泼辣的女孩。
Suǒ ěr tè hé pèi pà shì liǎng gè láizì huánghòu Ōu de jīngmíng pō là de nǚ hái。
Salt and Peppa are two streetwise and sassy girls from Queens.
4
我是个活泼类型的人，因此喜欢明亮的色调。
wǒ shì gè huópō lèixíng de rén， yīncǐ xǐhuan míngliàng de sè diào。
I'm a cheery sort of person, so I like cheerful tones.
5
他有一种活泼外向的幽默感，看上去大方自信。
tā yǒu yī zhǒng huópō wàixiàng de yōumò gǎn， kànshangqu dàfang zìxìn。
He has a lively sense of humour and appears naturally confident.
6
水泼到她身上时，她大叫了一声。
shuǐ pō dào tā shēnshang shí， tā dà jiào le yī shēng。
She gave a loud squawk when the water was poured on her.
7
她是个坏得冒水的泼妇。
tā shì gè huài de mào shuǐ de pō fù。
She is the bitch from hell.
8
他写到了吉莱斯皮的活泼、魅力和献身精神。
tā xiě dào le jí lái Sī pí de huópō、 mèilì hé xiàn shēn jīngshen。
He wrote about Gillespie's effervescence, magnetism and commitment.
9
下了一上午的瓢泼大雨, 后来才转晴.
xià le yī shàngwǔ de piáo pō dà yǔ, hòulái cái zhuǎi qíng.
It rained and dogs night, but cleared up in the morning.
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Word Family of 泼
Words containing this character12
活泼huópōlively活潑
泼pōto splash潑
泼妇pōfùshrew潑婦
泼辣pōlashrewish潑辣
泼冷水pōlěngshuǐlit. to pour cold water on潑冷水
撒泼sāpōto make an unreasonable scene撒潑
瓢泼大雨piáopōdàyǔdownpour (idiom)瓢潑大雨
泼水节pōshuǐjiéSongkran (Thai New Year)潑水節
瓢泼piáopō(of rain) pouring瓢潑
泼妇骂街pōfùmàjiēshouting abuse in the street like a fishwife潑婦罵街
耍泼shuǎpō(dialect) to make an unreasonable scene耍潑
泼水难收pōshuǐnánshōuwater once spilt cannot be retrieved (idiom); irreversible change潑水難收
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 泼
What does 活泼 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 泼
泼 (pō) primarily means 'to splash' or 'to spill', but it can also refer to someone's rough or brutish behavior. Additionally, it can describe a coarse texture or manner, giving it a range of uses in both physical and metaphorical contexts.
Yes, some common phrases include '泼冷水' (pō lěng shuǐ), which means 'to dampen enthusiasm' or 'to throw cold water on something'. This phrase reflects the idea of splashing cold water on someone’s hopes or excitement.
You can use 泼 (pō) in sentences that describe an action involving liquid, such as '我把水泼在地上' (I splashed water on the ground). It can also be used metaphorically, for example, '他的性格很泼' (His personality is very rough/brutish).
泼 (pō) means 'to splash' or 'to spill'. It can also describe something that is rough and coarse, or a brutish demeanor. This character captures both physical actions and certain qualities of behavior.
Some common phrases include 泼水 (pō shuǐ), meaning 'to splash water', and 泼冷水 (pō lěng shuǐ), which means 'to dampen enthusiasm'.
While 泼 is primarily informal, it can appear in descriptive writing or storytelling, but it is less common in formal reports or academic texts.
You can remember 'pō' by associating it with the sound of water splashing, making it easier to recall.
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