Chinese word

涂

Pronunciation

Pinyintú

Meaning

  • verbpaint

Example

请把桌子涂成白色。qǐng bǎ zhuō zi tú chéng bái sè

Please paint the table white.

Illustration for 涂 (paint)

More examples

工人把管道涂上了防锈漆。gōng rén bǎ guǎn dào tú shàng le fáng xiù qī

The worker applied anti-rust paint to the pipeline.

Core concept

Put a layer of liquid or paste onto something, whether the layer adds color, protection, or a different feel.

Common phrases

  • 涂防护层tú fáng hù céng

    apply a protective coating

  • 涂防锈漆tú fáng xiù qī

    apply anti-rust paint

Similar words

涂抹tú mǒ: To smear a liquid or paste across a surface, focusing on the spreading motion.
涂上tú shàng: To put liquid or paste onto a surface so that a layer is left on it.
覆盖fù gài: To hide a surface by putting another thing or layer over it.

Definition in Chinese

用手、刷子或工具将液体状或膏状物质在物体表面涂抹，形成一层覆盖或改变表面性质的动作。yòng shǒu shuā zi huò gōng jù jiāng yè tǐ zhuàng huò gāo zhuàng wù zhì zài wù tǐ biǎo miàn tú mǒ xíng chéng yì céng fù gài huò gǎi biàn biǎo miàn xìng zhì dì dòng zuò

Word origin

涂 (tú, "to coat") is written in simplified form for 塗 (tú, "to coat"), with 氵 (shuǐ, "water") suggesting a fluid material and 余 (yú, "surplus") helping represent the sound.

Usage tips

  • The material being used often makes the intended setting clear: cosmetics and skin-care products point to personal care, while household materials point to surface work.

Other meanings

  • spreadverb
  • coververb

Opposites

Related words

  • 涂层tú céngcoatingnoun
  • 涂改tú gǎireviseverb

Word lists with this word