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皰 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
皰pàoacnex, 10 strokes, radical 皮
pào(pao4) T4
  1. 1acne
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

皰pào(pao4)

皰 (pào) refers to acne or pimple, specifically a type of skin blemish that results from clogged pores. It is commonly used in medical contexts or discussions about skin care. The term is particularly relevant among young people and in dermatological discussions.

Strokes10Radical皮
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, skincare is highly valued, and discussions about acne often encompass not only health but also beauty standards. The prevalence of acne among youth is often linked to stress and diet, making it a common topic among young adults.

Memory Tip

Imagine a pimple on your face that looks like a small, round bubble (皰) filled with pus. The character 皰 resembles a bubble (the top part) with a hint of a skin issue (the lower part), linking the visual to its pronunciation 'pào'.

Meanings of 皰

pào(pao4)
1acne
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 皰

皰Simplified
10Strokes
皮Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 皰

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Podcast: 皰

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 皰

Quick Contrast

痘 (dòu) refers specifically to acne, often implying a more severe form, while 皰 (pào) is a broader term for any type of pimple or blemish.

Usage Notes

皰 is a more formal term and may not be used in casual conversations about skin. Common collocations include '青春皰' (youth acne) and '皮肤皰' (skin acne). Be careful with tones; a wrong tone could change the meaning entirely.

HSK Study Tips

Although 皰 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it can be helpful for students studying health-related vocabulary. Focus on related terms like 皮肤 (pífū, skin) and 痘痘 (dòudòu, pimple) to enhance your understanding.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 皰 with 痘痘, leading to incorrect usage in casual contexts. For example, saying '我有皰' (Wǒ yǒu pào) in a casual setting may sound overly formal; instead, use '我有痘痘' (Wǒ yǒu dòudòu).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 皰

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Etymology of 皰

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 疒 represents the meaning and 包 represents the sound. Simplified form of 皰.

Memory Hint

skin

Semantic (meaning)皮
+
Phonetic (sound)包
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 皰

Phonosemantic compound. 疒 represents the meaning and 包 represents the sound. Simplified form of 皰.

  1. 1The meaning half皮 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half包 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawayskin
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 皰? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 皰?

Decomposition of 皰

IDS Structure⿰皮包
皰Full Character
=
皮Pi2
left
包Bao1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 皰?

How to say acne in Chinese

“acne” in Chinese is皰pào

皰 (pào) refers to acne or pimple, specifically a type of skin blemish that results from clogged pores. It is commonly used in medical contexts or discussions about skin care. The term is particularly relevant among young people and in dermatological discussions.

When to use 皰

皰 is a more formal term and may not be used in casual conversations about skin. Common collocations include '青春皰' (youth acne) and '皮肤皰' (skin acne). Be careful with tones; a wrong tone could change the meaning entirely.

皰 or something close to it

痘 (dòu) refers specifically to acne, often implying a more severe form, while 皰 (pào) is a broader term for any type of pimple or blemish.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 皰 with 痘痘, leading to incorrect usage in casual contexts. For example, saying '我有皰' (Wǒ yǒu pào) in a casual setting may sound overly formal; instead, use '我有痘痘' (Wǒ yǒu dòudòu).

Write 皰

皰

Practice writing 皰 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 皰

Words Containing This Character4
疱疹blister皰疹
疱pàopimple皰
水疱blister水皰
天疱疮(medicine) pemphigus天皰瘡
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 疱疹 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 皰

皰 (pào) is a more formal term for acne, while 痘痘 (dòudòu) is more colloquial and commonly used.

Jason Recommends

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