唾 (tuò) — saliva (bound form)

Definition

A bound form meaning 'saliva' (typically written, rarely standing alone). Usually attaches to another character to form a compound like 唾液 or 唾沫, not used as a standalone word.

bound form
saliva (bound form)

Examples

  • 。
    tuò Yè zhōng de méi yǒu zhù yú xiāo huà.
    The enzymes in saliva aid digestion.
  • 。
    Tā wǎng dì shàng tǔ le yì kǒu tuò mò.
    He spat a mouthful of spittle on the ground.
  • 。
    Yī shēng jiǎn chá le tā de tuò yè yàng běn.
    The doctor examined his saliva sample.

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
Sound part声符shēngfú
垂
垂chuí唾tuò
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

唾 combines 口, a mouth, with 垂, which gives the sound. The mouth part connects it to saliva.

Appears in

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