噗 (pū) — (onomatopoeia) puff; sound of a sudden burst of air, liquid, or a suppressed laugh

Definition

An onomatopoeia for a sudden, soft burst — air, liquid spraying, or a snort of suppressed laughter. Written as 噗的一声 or 噗地 + verb.

onomatopoeia
puffsound of a sudden burst of airliquidor a suppressed laugh

Examples

  • “噗”。
    Tā chuī miè là zhú shí fā chū "pū" de yī shēng.
    He made a 'puff' sound when he blew out the candle.
  • “噗”。
    Kě lè píng yì dǎ kāi jiù "pū" dì pēn chū lái.
    The cola bottle sprayed out with a 'puff' as soon as it was opened.
  • “噗”。
    Tā tīng dào xiào hua rěn bú zhù "pū" dì xiào chū shēng.
    She couldn't help but snort with laughter when she heard the joke.

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
口口kǒumouth
Sound part声符shēngfú
菐
菐pú噗pū
Same sound today

噗 is built from 口 (mouth) and 菐, which supplies the sound pú.

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