喷泉

• Pinyin: pēn quán
• Hanzi breakdown: 喷 = 口 + 贲 (mouth + gush — to spray); 泉 = 白 + 水 (white water flowing from a source — spring)

Meaning

Fountain; a decorative structure that jets water upward; a natural spring that sprays water from the ground.

A common feature in Chinese urban plazas, parks, and scenic areas. Musical fountain shows are popular tourist attractions. Also used metaphorically to describe an outpouring of ideas or emotions.

Examples

1. 广场中央的大型音乐喷泉每晚定时开放，吸引大批市民观赏。 The large musical fountain in the center of the plaza opens on a set schedule every evening and draws crowds of residents to watch.
2. 孩子们在夏日的喷泉旁嬉戏，笑声不断。 The children played by the fountain in summer, with nonstop laughter.
3. 他的创意如喷泉般源源不断，令团队成员深感钦佩。 His ideas keep coming like a fountain, and the team members admire him greatly.

Usage Guide

Context: urban spaces, tourism, architecture, nature

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 这座城市新建的音乐喷泉广场已成为市民休闲娱乐的重要公共空间。(The city's newly built musical fountain plaza has become an important public space for residents to relax and enjoy leisure activities.)
• 设计师在庭院中央设置了一座小型喷泉，为整体环境增添了灵动之美。(The designer placed a small fountain at the centre of the courtyard, adding a sense of vitality and beauty to the overall environment.)

Don't Say

• 他的眼泪像喷泉一样 — use 泪如泉涌 or 哭得很厉害 for crying heavily; directly comparing tears to a 喷泉 sounds awkward in standard usage

Origin & History

喷 (spray, spurt) + 泉 (spring, fountain) — water spraying upward like a natural spring

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal