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泼辣 (pō la) — bold and assertive; lively and vigorous (often positive, of a woman); fierce and aggressive; sharp-tongued (negative)

Definition

泼辣 (pō la) describes a woman who is forceful, sharp, and capable — often praise for being bold and effective, but can be negative when it means shrewish or abrasive in speech. Notice how tone of voice and context decide which sense applies.

adjective
bold and assertivelively and vigorous (often positive, of a woman)fierce and aggressivesharp-tongued (negative)

Examples

  • 泼辣。
    Tā shì gè pō la néng gàn de gū niang.
    She is a bold and capable girl.
  • 泼辣，。
    Nà ge rén shuō huà tài pō la le, ràng rén hěn bù shū fu.
    That person speaks too aggressively, making people very uncomfortable.
  • 泼辣。
    Tā de pō la xìng gé ràng tā zài shāng chǎng shàng fēi cháng chéng gōng.
    Her assertive personality makes her very successful in the business world.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

泼pōfierce
辣làsharp

泼辣 pairs 泼 (fierce) and 辣 (sharp), giving a bold, fierce manner.

Characters in this word

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 潑; 泼 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
氵氵shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
發
發fā潑pō
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 潑 uses 氵 for water and 發 to suggest the pronunciation; the simplified 泼 is a later shorthand.

Open 泼 →

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
辛辛xīn
Sound part声符shēngfú
束
剌là辣là
Same sound today

辣 is built from 辛, which carries the meaning, and 束, written in full as 剌, which carries the sound.

Open 辣 →
Appears in
Personality & Traits

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