喷 (pēn) — to spray, to spout, to spurt

Definition

喷 (pēn) means to spray or spurt under pressure — a liquid shot out from a nozzle, hose, or animal (e.g. 喷水, 喷香水). Compared to 洒 (sǎ), 喷 is forceful and directed; 洒 is gentler, like scattering or spilling.

verb
to sprayto spoutto spurt

Examples

  • 。
    Tā wǎng huā shàng pēn shuǐ.
    He sprays water on the flowers.
  • 。
    Tā chū mén qián zǒng yào pēn xiāng shuǐ.
    She always sprays perfume before going out.
  • 喷。
    Tā wǎng qiáng shàng pēn yóu qī.
    He sprays paint on the wall.

Origin

Sound + meaning
六书liùshū
形声xíngshēng

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 噴; 喷 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
口口kǒumouth
Sound part声符shēngfú
賁
賁bì噴pēn
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 噴 pairs 口, mouth, with 賁 for the sound; the simplified 喷 is a later shorthand.

Browse more HSK 6 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.