波 bō waves
waves; ripples; breakers
How it came to be
Water with the skin block beside it, a hide being stripped off. The skin of the water is what moves when a wave goes through: the surface travels while the water stays.
How it is used
- A wave/ripple, literal and figurative - 波浪 (bōlàng) waves, 波动 (bōdòng) to fluctuate (prices/mood), 电波 (diànbō) radio waves.
- 波及 (bōjí) means to spread to/affect (like ripples): 危机波及全球 (wēijī bōjí quánqiú) the crisis spread worldwide. 奔波 (bēnbō) means to rush about toiling; 一波三折 (yìbō-sānzhé) full of twists.