沱 (tuó) — tearful; to branch (of river)

Definition

沱 is a bound form used in set phrases about heavy crying (泪流滂沱) or a river bend / tributary (沱江). It only appears in literary or place-name contexts, not as a standalone word.

bound form
tearfulto branch (of river)
Easily confused

Examples

  • ，。
    Tā shāng xīn dì kū qǐ lái, lèi liú pāng tuó.
    She cried sadly, tears streaming down.
  • 沱。
    Zhè tiáo tuó jiāng shì cháng jiāng de zhī liú.
    This Tuo River is a tributary of the Yangtze.
  • ，泗。
    Tā yì xiǎng qǐ wǎng shì, jiù tì sì pāng tuó.
    Whenever he thinks of the past, he bursts into tears.

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
水水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
它
它tā沱
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

沱 is made from 水 (water) and 它, which supplies the sound.

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