搏 (bó) — (bound form) to wrestle, to fight, to struggle; (bound form) to beat, to pulse, to throb
Definition
A bound form always paired with another character: ∼斗 (fight), ∼击 (combat), 脉∼ (pulse). Never used alone — always check the compound for meaning.
bound form
to wrestleto fightto struggleto beatto pulseto throb
Examples
- 。Tā men zhèng zài jìn xíng jī liè de bó dòu.They are engaged in a fierce fight.
- 。Yī shēng jiǎn chá le tā de mài bó.The doctor checked his pulse.
- 。Quán jī yùn dòng yuán měi tiān liàn xí bó jī.Boxers practice combat every day.
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.
Sound part声符shēngfú
尃
尃fū搏bó
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.
搏 puts 手 (hand) beside 尃, which gives the sound; the hand part points to actions done with the hand.
Appears in
Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.