爆 (bào) - To explode, burst & to erupt, break out

爆Tone 4

bào ｜ 19 strokes ｜ radical:

傲不

爆 · bào

To explode, burst;

to erupt, break out;

to pop;

to expose suddenly;

to stir-fry quickly.

To explode, burstto erupt, break outto pop

Usage highlights

ExplosionVolcanic eruptionPopcornSudden outbreakQuick stirBurst into laughter

Synonyms

  • 炸— explode, blow up
  • 破— break, burst
  • 裂— split, crack

Antonyms

  • 稳— stable, steady
  • 静— calm, quiet
  • 缓— slow, gradual

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The balloon burst (气球爆了).
  • The volcano erupted (火山爆发).
  • Popcorn is made from corn (爆米花).
  • The news broke suddenly (消息爆出).
  • He stir-fried the vegetables quickly (爆炒蔬菜).

Collocations

  • Explosion(爆炸)
  • Volcanic eruption(火山爆发)
  • Popcorn(爆米花)
  • Sudden outbreak(爆发)
  • Quick stir-fry(爆炒)
  • Burst into laughter(爆笑)

Idioms

  • Explode with anger(怒发冲冠)
  • Sudden outbreak of cold words(冷语冰人)
  • Burst out laughing(哄堂大笑)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In Chinese cuisine, '爆炒' refers to a high-heat quick cooking method that preserves texture and flavor.
  • The character appears in modern terms like '爆料' (exposing secrets) in media and entertainment contexts.
  • Historically associated with sudden, powerful events both natural (volcanoes) and social (uprisings).

FAQ