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活泼 (huó pō) — lively, vivacious, full of energy; (chemistry) reactive

Definition

活泼 describes a lively, energetic personality, manner, or style (people, animals, speech). It's more about natural high spirits than 积极, which means actively taking initiative with a positive outlook.

adjective
livelyvivaciousfull of energy(chemistry) reactive

Examples

  • 活泼。
    Tā xìng gé hěn huó pō.
    She has a lively personality.
  • 活泼。
    Zhè zhī xiǎo māo fēi cháng huó pō.
    This kitten is very lively.
  • 活泼。
    Tā de yǎn jiǎng fēng gé hěn huó pō.
    His speech style is very lively.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

活huólively
泼pōlively

活 and 泼 both mean lively, so together they describe energetic, vivid behavior.

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
𠯑
𠯑𠯑活huó
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

活 is built from 氵 (water) and 𠯑, which shows the sound; 𠯑 later changed into 舌.

Open 活 →

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 潑; 泼 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
氵氵shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
發
發fā潑pō
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 潑 uses 氵 for water and 發 to suggest the pronunciation; the simplified 泼 is a later shorthand.

Open 泼 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 4HSK 2.0 Level 4Personality & Traits

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