涂抹 (tú mǒ) — to daub, to smear (paint, cream, ointment, etc.…

Definition

Literary word for smearing a substance (paint, ointment) on a surface, or scribbling. 比涂 more formal; 比写 carries a careless, messy sense.

verb

to daubto smear (paint, cream, ointment, etc.)to scribbleto scrawl

涂抹。
Huà jiā zài huà bù shàng tú mǒ le yī céng yán liào.
The painter applied a layer of paint on the canvas.
涂抹。
Tā zài shāng kǒu shàng tú mǒ le yì xiē yào gāo.
He smeared some ointment on the wound.
涂抹。
Xiǎo hái zi xǐ huan zài qiáng shàng luàn tú mǒ.
Children like to scribble on walls.

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

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

Applying 涂 and smearing 抹 together describe spreading paint or writing.

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.

氵余涂

Meaning part形符xíngfú

氵Written in full as水shuǐwater

Sound part声符shēngfú

余

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

涂 has 氵 on the left, a form of 水 meaning water, and 余 on the right for the sound.

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

扌末抹

Meaning part形符xíngfú

扌Written in full as手shǒu

Sound part声符shēngfú

末

Same sound today

The left part 扌 is the hand component 手, showing an action done with the hand; the right part 末 gives the pronunciation.

Appears in