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波涛 (bō tāo) — great waves, billows (literal and figurative)

Definition

Literary word for 'great waves, billows' — more forceful and grander than 波浪 (ordinary waves). Often used figuratively, as in 心潮/情绪 波涛 (surging emotions).

noun
great wavesbillows (literal and figurative)

Examples

  • 波涛，。
    Hǎi miàn shàng bō tāo xiōng yǒng, chuán yáo huàng dé lì hài.
    The sea was raging with great waves, and the boat rocked violently.
  • 波涛，。
    Tā nèi xīn bō tāo qǐ fú, jiǔ jiǔ bù néng píng jìng.
    Waves of emotion surged in his heart; he couldn't calm down for a long time.
  • 波涛。
    Huà jiā yòng nóng mò miáo huì nà fān gǔn de bō tāo.
    The painter used thick ink to depict those rolling billows.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

波bōwave
涛tāogreat wave

波 means wave and 涛 means great wave; together they name surging waves.

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
氵Written in full as水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
皮
皮pí波bō
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The left side 氵 is water, and the right side 皮 gives the sound.

Open 波 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 濤; 涛 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
氵Written in full as水shuǐ
Sound part声符shēngfú
壽
壽shòu濤tāo
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 濤 pairs 氵 (water) with 壽, which gives the sound; the simplified 涛 is a shortened form.

Open 涛 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Geography & Landforms

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