痘 (dòu) — (noun) pimple, acne spot; (noun) pox (as in smallpox or chickenpox)
Definition
Usually seen in compounds: 水痘 (chickenpox) and 天花/种痘 (smallpox). On its own it refers to a single pimple or pock mark. Measure word 颗 is used for individual spots.
noun
pimpleacne spotpox (as in smallpox or chickenpox)
Measure word · 颗
Examples
- 痘。Tā liǎn shàng yòu cháng le jǐ kē dòu.She has several new pimples on her face.
- ,。Hái zi dé le shuǐ dòu, bù néng qù shàng xué.The child caught chickenpox and can't go to school.
- 痘,。Xiǎo shí hou zhǒng guò dòu, jiù bú huì dé tiān huā.If you were vaccinated against smallpox as a child, you won't get it.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost 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
疒疒nèillness
痘 pairs 疒 (illness) with 豆 (bean), for a disease with bean-shaped skin bumps.
Appears in
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