浪涛 (làng tāo) — waves (especially large, surging waves)

Definition

noun

waves (especially large, surging waves)

Measure word · 阵

浪涛。
Hǎi shàng de làng tāo pāi dǎ zhe yán shí.
The waves on the sea were crashing against the rocks.
浪涛，。
làng tāo Xiōng yǒng, chuán zài hǎi shàng yáo huàng dé hěn lì hài.
The waves were surging, and the boat was rocking violently on the sea.
，浪涛。
Tā zhàn zài àn biān, wàng zhe yuǎn qù de làng tāo.
He stood on the shore, watching the waves recede into the distance.

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.

涛tāogreat wave

浪 (wave) and 涛 (great wave) together mean large 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

Sound part声符shēngfú

良

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

浪 pairs 水 (water) with 良, which supplies the sound. The water part points to its meaning of waves.

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.

氵壽濤

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.