滔 (tāo) - inundate, flood & overflow

滔Tone 1

tāo ｜ 13 strokes ｜ radical:

檀婷

滔 · tāo

inundate, flood;

overflow;

to surge;

describes something vast and continuous like flowing water.

inundate, floodoverflowto surge

Usage highlights

surging floodwatersspeak volublybillowing wavesendless flowtorrential riverboundless ocean

Synonyms

  • 涌— surge, gush
  • 漫— overflow, flood
  • 溢— overflow, spill

Antonyms

  • 涸— dry up, parched
  • 竭— exhaust, use up
  • 断— break, interrupt

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The floodwaters surged (滔滔洪水).
  • He delivered an eloquent speech (滔滔不绝地演讲).
  • The river flows endlessly (江水滔滔).
  • A torrent of words (滔滔不绝的话语).

Collocations

  • surging floodwaters(滔滔洪水)
  • speak volubly(滔滔不绝)
  • billowing waves(滔滔波浪)
  • endless flow(滔滔不绝)
  • torrential river(滔滔江河)
  • boundless ocean(滔滔大海)

Idioms

  • Speak volubly(滔滔不绝)
  • The mighty Yellow River flows eastward(滔滔黄河东流去)
  • Boundless waves(滔滔不绝)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Often used to describe grand, continuous natural phenomena like rivers and oceans.
  • In literature, it metaphorically represents eloquent, uninterrupted speech or writing.
  • Carries connotations of abundance, continuity, and unstoppable force.

FAQ