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涂 (tú) — to apply (paint, cream, etc.), to smear, to daub; to scribble, to scrawl

Definition

涂 focuses on spreading a layer onto a surface (paint, cream, lipstick) or scribbling on paper. Compared to 擦 (wiping/rubbing on), 涂 emphasizes leaving something behind; vs 抹 (apply/erase), 涂 is more for thick, visible layers like paint or doodles.

verb
to apply (paint, cream, etc.)to smearto daubto scribbleto scrawl
Easily confused

Examples

  • 涂。
    Tā zài qiáng shàng tú le yī céng yóu qī.
    He applied a layer of paint on the wall.
  • 涂。
    Tā měi tiān zǎo chén dōu zài liǎn shàng tú miàn shuāng.
    She applies face cream on her face every morning.
  • 涂。
    Xiǎo hái zi xǐ huan zài zhǐ shàng luàn tú.
    Children like to scribble on paper.

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
氵Written in full as水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
余
余yú涂tú
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.

Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-95000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

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