泼

• Pinyin: pō
• Hanzi breakdown: 泼 = 氵(water) + 发 (hair/emit), to splash

Meaning

To splash; to pour; to throw (liquid). Forcefully throwing or spilling liquid.

Physical action of splashing water or other liquids. Also used metaphorically: 泼冷水 (pour cold water = dampen enthusiasm), 泼墨 (splash ink, a painting technique). 泼水节 is the famous Dai water-splashing festival.

Examples

1. 小孩子在院子里互相泼水玩。 The kids are splashing water at each other in the yard for fun.
2. 她一气之下把水泼在了他脸上。 In a fit of anger, she splashed water on his face.
3. 别给我泼冷水，让我先试试。 Don't pour cold water on my idea; let me try first.

Usage Guide

Context: action, emotion, festival

Tone: dynamic

Do Say

• 小心别把水泼出来。(Be careful not to splash the water out.)
• 泼水节是傣族的重要节日。(The Water Splashing Festival is an important Dai festival.)

Don't Say

• 我泼了他一个球。(泼 is for liquids only — use 扔 for solid objects)

Origin & History

Pictophonetic: 氵(water) + 发 (phonetic). Water being thrown.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal