娑 (suō) — (phonetic); see 婆娑

Definition

娑 is a bound form that almost only appears in the set phrase 婆娑 (pósuō), meaning 'swaying, dancing, luxuriant' — used to describe graceful, flowing movement like wind-blown trees or a dancing figure.

bound form
(phonetic)see 婆娑
Easily confused

Examples

  • 。
    Yáng liǔ zài fēng zhōng pó suō qǐ wǔ.
    The willow trees danced in the wind.
  • ，。
    Dà shù de zhī yè pó suō, tóu xià yí piàn yīn liáng.
    The tree's foliage is luxuriant, casting a patch of shade.
  • ，。
    Yuè guāng xià, tā de shēn yǐng pó suō dòng rén.
    Under the moonlight, her silhouette was gracefully elegant.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
女女nǚwoman
Sound part声符shēngfú
沙
沙shā娑
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

娑 combines 女, a woman, with 沙 to give the sound shā.

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