HSK · Level 44
120 words
Chinese word
泼
Pronunciation
Pinyinpō
Meaning
- verbsplash
Example
孩子们在院子里互相泼水。hái zi men zài yuàn zi lǐ hù xiāng pō shuǐ
The children splash water on each other in the yard.
More examples
傣族人在泼水节互相泼水庆祝新年。dǎi zú rén zài pō shuǐ jié hù xiāng pō shuǐ qìng zhù xīn nián
Dai people splash water on each other at the Water-Splashing Festival to celebrate the New Year.
Core concept
A person sends water outward in one brisk motion, making it spread in scattered drops rather than flow in a steady stream.
Common phrases
大力泼水dà lì pō shuǐ
splash water vigorously
把水泼到别人身上bǎ shuǐ pō dào bié rén shēn shàng
splash water on others
Similar words
浇jiāo: Pour water onto plants or objects to wet them in a controlled way.
倒dào: Tilt a container to move its liquid or contents to another place.
喷pēn: Send liquid or gas forcefully outward in a spray or fine mist.
溅jiàn: Send small drops flying outward when liquid hits a surface or object.
Definition in Chinese
把水从手或容器中猛地泼出，使水花四散。bǎ shuǐ cóng shǒu huò róng qì zhōng měng dì pō chū shǐ shuǐ huā sì sàn
Word origin
The character 泼 (pō, "splash") has the water radical for its meaning and 发 (fā, "send out") as its sound-bearing component, linking the form to liquid moving outward.
Usage tips
- Unlike a careful watering action, this verb suggests a quick, energetic motion, so it fits play and sudden actions better than slow, controlled liquid use.
Other meanings
- sprinkleverb
- pourverb
Related words
- 泼辣pō làboldadjective
- 泼水节pō shuǐ jiéWater-Splashing Festivalnoun