涛 (tāo) — (bound form) large waves, billows
Definition
A bound literary/poetic morph meaning 'large waves, billows' — it doesn't stand alone; it always attaches to another morph like 波涛, 浪涛, or 惊涛.
bound form
large wavesbillows
Examples
- ，。Hǎi miàn shàng bō tāo xiōng yǒng, chuán zhī bù gǎn chū hǎi.The waves on the sea were surging, so the boats dared not go out.
- “”。Nà shǒu shī zhōng yòng le "jīng tāo hài làng" lái xíng róng rén shēng de kǎn kě.That poem used 'furious waves' to describe life's hardships.
- ，。Làng tāo pāi dǎ zài yán shí shàng, fā chū jù dà de shēng xiǎng.The billows crashed against the rocks, producing a huge sound.
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.
This origin belongs to the traditional form 濤; 涛 is its simplified writing.
Sound part声符shēngfú
壽
壽shòu濤tāo
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.
The traditional form 濤 pairs 氵 (water) with 壽, which gives the sound; the simplified 涛 is a shortened form.
Appears in
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