洒满 (sǎ mǎn) — to cover (a surface) completely by sprinkling or spreading (of liquids, light, etc.)

Definition

A compound verb: 洒 ('to scatter/sprinkle') + 满 ('full of'), meaning liquid or light is scattered so it covers a whole surface.

verb
to cover (a surface) completely by sprinkling or spreading (of liquids, light, etc.)

Examples

  • 洒满。
    Yáng guāng sǎ mǎn dà dì.
    Sunlight covers the earth.
  • 洒满。
    Lèi shuǐ sǎ mǎn tā de liǎn.
    Tears cover her face.
  • 洒满。
    Yǔ shuǐ sǎ mǎn le jiē dào.
    Rainwater covered the streets.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

洒sǎsprinkle
满mǎnfull

洒满 combines 洒 (sprinkle) and 满 (full), to sprinkle all over.

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

洒 combines 水, the water part, with 西, which gives the sound.

Open 洒 →

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 滿; 满 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
水水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
㒼
㒼㒼滿mǎn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 滿 pairs 水, showing water, with 㒼, giving the sound. The simplified 满 is a later shorthand, not the original shape.

Open 满 →

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