怖 (bù) — (bound form) fear; terror; frightening
Definition
怖 is a bound form, almost always paired with 恐 to mean 'fear / terror' — as in 恐怖 (scary, horror) or 恐怖主义 (terrorism). It does not stand alone.
bound form
fearterrorfrightening
Easily confused
- 钸būlook-alike(rare) metal plate; used in archaic or technical contexts
- 不bùsound-alikeno, not (negates verbs and adjectives)
- 部bùsound-alike(classifier) for films, books, machines, etc.
- 步bùsound-alike(noun) step (in walking), pace
- 布bùsound-alikecloth; fabric
- 簿bùsound-alikebook, register (bound form, used in compound words)
Examples
- 。Zhè bù diàn yǐng hěn kǒng bù.This movie is very scary.
- 怖。Nà ge dì fāng ràng rén gǎn dào kě bù.That place makes people feel horrible.
- 。Kǒng bù zhǔ yì wēi xié shì jiè hé píng.Terrorism threatens world peace.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.
怖 is made of 忄, the heart, and 布, which gives the sound. The heart side shows fear.
Appears in
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