(dòu) — (noun) pimple, acne spot; (noun) pox (as in smallpox or chickenpox)

Definition

Usually seen in compounds: 水痘 (chickenpox) and 天花/种痘 (smallpox). On its own it refers to a single pimple or pock mark. Measure word 颗 is used for individual spots.

noun
pimpleacne spotpox (as in smallpox or chickenpox)
Measure word ·

Examples

  • Tā liǎn shàng yòu cháng le jǐ kē dòu.
    She has several new pimples on her face.
  • Hái zi dé le shuǐ dòu, bù néng qù shàng xué.
    The child caught chickenpox and can't go to school.
  • Xiǎo shí hou zhǒng guò dòu, jiù bú huì dé tiān huā.
    If you were vaccinated against smallpox as a child, you won't get it.

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
illness
Sound part声符shēngfú
dòudòu
Same sound today

痘 pairs 疒 (illness) with 豆 (bean), for a disease with bean-shaped skin bumps.

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