泼

Étymologie et composants

The Chinese character 泼 (pō) is composed of two parts: the radical 水 (shuǐ), which means "water", and the phonetic component 孛 (bó), which is a variant of the character 勃 (bó), meaning "to burst forth". The combination of these two components suggests the idea of water bursting forth or splashing, which is the original meaning of the character 泼.Over time, the meaning of 泼 has expanded to include the idea of "to throw" or "to spill", as well as the figurative sense of "to be unrestrained" or "to be wild". The character is often used in negative contexts, such as to describe someone who is reckless or impulsive. For example, the phrase 泼妇 (pōfù) means "a shrewish woman", while the phrase 泼皮 (pōpí) means "a ruffian".In addition to its literal and figurative meanings, 泼 is also used in a number of idioms and proverbs. For example, the idiom 泼水难收 (pōshuǐ nánshōu) means "it is difficult to take back what has been said or done", while the proverb 泼出去的水收不回来 (pōchūqù de shuǐ shōubùhuílái) means "you can't put the toothpaste back in the tube".The character 泼 is a versatile and expressive character that can be used in a variety of contexts. Its rich history and multiple meanings make it an interesting and rewarding character to study for HSK learners.