传播

The Chinese word 传播 (chuánbò) for "spread" or "propagate" is composed of two characters: 传 (chuán) and 播 (bò). The character 传 originally meant "to pass on" or "to hand down", and was often used in the context of passing on knowledge or traditions. It is composed of the radical 辶 (chuò), which indicates movement, and the character 川 (chuān), which means "river". This suggests the idea of something flowing or passing through something else. The character 播 originally meant "to sow" or "to scatter", and was often used in the context of planting seeds. It is composed of the radical 禾 (hé), which indicates plants, and the character 播 (bò), which means "to spread out". This suggests the idea of something being scattered or disseminated. When combined, the two characters 传播 (chuánbò) take on the meaning of "to spread" or "to propagate", suggesting the idea of something being passed on or disseminated in a widespread manner.