泡 Stroke Order — How to Write 泡
泡 is written in 8 strokes, following the standard Chinese stroke order. Start from the radical 氵, then complete the remaining strokes.
Stroke order matters in Chinese: it keeps the character balanced, and it is how dictionaries and handwriting input methods expect a character to be written.
泡 Radical and Character Components
泡 is a phono-semantic compound: 氵 (water) carries the meaning, while 包 indicates the sound.
Radical: 氵 + 5 more strokes
泡 Pronunciation and Pinyin
- pào
- pāo
Meanings of 泡 in Chinese
1
pào泡
Refers to a spherical body of gas in a liquid, such as a bubble or foam; also used metaphorically for something transient or futile, like a delusion or shattered hope.
他所有的努力都成了泡影。
All his efforts came to nothing.
A bulb-like object; a bulb (as in 'light bulb').
这个灯泡太亮了，有点刺眼
This light bulb is too bright, a bit dazzling.
To steep or soak items in liquid, such as brewing tea, pickling vegetables, or soaking rice. It can also figuratively mean for a plan or wish to fall through.
我喜欢在早上泡一杯热茶。
I like to brew a cup of hot tea in the morning.
To deliberately waste time, often by lingering in a place or feigning a condition (like illness) to avoid responsibilities.
他整天泡在网吧里，真是浪费时间。
He spends all day loitering in the internet café, truly wasting his time.
2
pāo泡
Refers to something puffed up and soft, like a fried tofu puff or a puffy eyelid.
这碗汤里有几个豆腐泡儿，味道不错。
This bowl of soup has a few fried tofu puffs, and it tastes good.
Spongy, soft, or not firm (describing materials like wood).
泡桐的木材比较泡，轻便易加工。
Paulownia wood is relatively soft and light, making it easy to process.
Dialectal term for a small lake or pond, often used in place names.
村子旁边有个清澈的泡子。
There's a clear small lake next to the village.
A measure word, equivalent to '脬' (pāo), used colloquially for a blob, lump, or a quantity of something, particularly bodily excretions like urine or faeces.
小狗在草地上拉了一泡尿。
The little dog peed on the grass.
Common Words and Phrases with 泡
1
To feign illness for a prolonged period to avoid work, or to exaggerate a minor ailment.
他总是喜欢泡病号，一点小感冒也要在家休息好几天。
He always likes to feign illness; even for a minor cold, he has to rest at home for several days.
2
Pickled vegetables, typically cabbage or radish, preserved in a seasoned brine.
我喜欢在早餐时吃一些脆脆的泡菜，它能开胃
I like to eat some crispy pickled vegetables for breakfast; it helps to stimulate the appetite.
3
cooked rice soaked in water or soup
感冒的时候，奶奶经常给我做一碗清淡的泡饭。
When I have a cold, grandma often makes me a bowl of light 'pao fan'.
4
Bulky goods, items that are large in volume but light in weight.
运输这些泡货的成本很高，因为它们占用了很多空间。
The transportation cost for these bulky goods is high because they occupy a lot of space.
5
To dawdle; to intentionally delay a task or conversation by talking irrelevantly or being evasive.
你别再泡蘑菇了，有什么话就直说吧，别耽误大家时间。
Stop beating around the bush; just say what you need to say and don't waste everyone's time.
6
Foam or froth; figuratively, something illusory or unsubstantial.
咖啡上有一层细腻的牛奶泡沫。
There is a layer of delicate milk foam on the coffee.
7
To pick up girls (slang), referring to a man pursuing women.
他周末喜欢和朋友一起出去泡妞。
He likes to go out with friends and flirt with girls on weekends.
8
Bubble gum is a type of chewing gum designed to be blown out of the mouth as a bubble.
孩子们喜欢嚼泡泡口香糖，然后吹出大大的泡泡。
Children love to chew bubble gum and then blow big bubbles.
9
Seersucker is a type of cotton fabric, typically with a plain weave, characterized by its distinctive crinkled or puckered surface.
这件衬衫是用轻薄的泡泡纱做的，穿起来非常凉爽舒适。
This shirt is made of light seersucker, making it very cool and comfortable to wear.
10
to fall through; to come to nothing; to be ruined or canceled
因为突如其来的大雨，我们周末的野餐计划彻底泡汤了
Our weekend picnic plan completely fell through because of the sudden heavy rain.
11
to effervesce; to produce bubbles and fizz
这种药片放入水中会迅速泡腾。
This tablet will quickly effervesce when placed in water.
12
paulownia
我们家的后院种着一棵高大的泡桐树，每到春天，紫色的花朵开满枝头，非常美丽。
Our backyard has a tall Paulownia tree, and every spring, its branches are full of beautiful purple flowers.
13
a rapid eddy or a turbulent water flow with waves and whirlpools
激流中的泡漩使得小船难以操控。
The swirling currents in the rapids made the small boat difficult to control.
14
An empty hope or a futile outcome.
他辛苦多年的梦想，最终化为泡影。
His dream, which he had worked hard for many years, ultimately vanished into thin air.
15
To soak oneself in a bath, typically for relaxation or cleansing.
忙碌了一天后，她喜欢在温暖的浴缸里泡澡，放松身心。
After a busy day, she likes to soak in a warm bathtub to relax her body and mind.
More words with 泡
- yè液pào泡vacuole
- jìn浸pào泡soak, steep
- pào泡chá茶brew tea, make tea
- dēng灯pào泡light bulb, bulb
- pào泡miàn面instant noodles, ramen
- pào泡pao泡bubble, blister
- pào泡ruǎn软soften, soak
- pào泡shuǐ水soak, waterlogged
- pào泡zi子puddle, pond
- chōng冲pào泡brew, steep
- pào泡shuǐ水hē喝steep in water to drink, infuse in water to drink
- qì气pào泡bubble, air bubble
- pào泡gè个To soak, To brew
- pào泡mò沫bǎn板foam board, Styrofoam board
- pào泡mò沫zhuàng状foamy, frothy
- pào泡wēn温quán泉Soak in a hot spring, Take a hot spring bath
- xiǎo小pào泡small bubble, small blister
- yǎn眼pāo泡puffy eyes, swollen eyelids
- pào泡huài坏over-steeped, over-soaked
- pào泡wán完Finished soaking, Finished steeping
Idioms with 泡
- huà化wéi为pào泡yǐng影vanish like a bubble
- mèng梦huàn幻pào泡yǐng影illusory, ephemeral, empty, and easily destroyed
- zhōng终chéng成pào泡yǐng影all efforts come to nothing
- féi肥zào皂pào泡fragile, ephemeral, or illusory thing
- rú如fǎ法pào泡zhì制follow a set pattern
- tán昙huā花pào泡yǐng影a fleeting illusion
- ōu沤fú浮pào泡yǐng影ephemeral, transient, or fleeting things
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Open the tool →Questions about 泡
What does 泡 mean in Chinese?
泡 (pào) means “A bulb-like object” in Chinese.
How do you pronounce 泡?
泡 has 2 pronunciations: pào, pāo.
How many strokes does 泡 have?
泡 has 8 strokes.
How do you write 泡?
泡 is written in 8 strokes, starting from the radical 氵. See the animated stroke order on this page.
What is the radical of 泡?
The radical of 泡 is 氵, and 泡 is a phono-semantic compound.