播撒 (bō sā) — to sow (seeds); to scatter, to spread (ideas, love, etc.)

Definition

Literary verb meaning 'to sow' (seeds) or 'to scatter/spread' abstract things like hope, love, or ideas. Strongly written/elevated register — preferred over the plain 撒 in formal prose and slogans.

verb
to sow (seeds)to scatterto spread (ideas, love, etc.)

Examples

  • 播撒。
    Nóng mín zài tián lǐ bō sā zhǒng zi.
    The farmers are sowing seeds in the field.
  • 播撒。
    Lǎo shī yòng zhī shi bō sā xī wàng de zhǒng zi.
    The teacher sows the seeds of hope with knowledge.
  • 播撒。
    Chūn tiān shì bō sā de hǎo jì jié.
    Spring is a good season for sowing.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

播bōsow
撒sāscatter

播 and 撒 both describe scattering seeds or spreading something, so it means to sow or scatter.

Characters in this word

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
扌Written in full as手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
番
番fān播bō
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

播 is built from 扌, a hand radical, plus 番 as a sound part. The hand part marks it as something done by hand.

Open 播 →

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
扌Written in full as手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
散
散sàn撒sǎ
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

撒 combines 扌 (hand) with 散, which gives the sound; the hand part shows scattering with the hand.

Open 撒 →

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