póu
抔
to cup in hands; a handful
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
2 senses · 5 examplesverb
to scoop or cup with the hands
literaryClassical/literary term for the action of using one's hands to hold or scoop something, typically loose material like soil, sand, or water.
Tā他
póu抔
qǐ起
yī一
pǒng捧
qīng清
chè澈
de的
quán泉
shuǐ水
。
He scooped up a handful of clear spring water.
Tóng童
zǐ子
yú于
xī溪
biān边
póu抔
shuǐ水
ér而
yǐn饮
。
The child cupped water from the stream to drink.
classifier
handful; double handful (as a measure word)
literaryUsed as a classical measure word for a quantity that can be held in two cupped hands. Commonly seen in the phrase "一抔土".
Zhè这
lǐ里
mái埋
zhe着
de的
，
bù不
guò过
shì是
yī一
póu抔
huáng黄
tǔ土
。
What is buried here is nothing but a handful of yellow earth.
Tā他
dài带
zǒu走
le了
yī一
póu抔
gù故
xiāng乡
de的
ní泥
tǔ土
zuò作
wéi为
jì纪
niàn念
。
He took away a handful of his hometown's soil as a memento.
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Shī诗
yún云
：
“
yī一
póu杯
jìng净
tǔ土
yǎn掩
fēng风
liú流
。
”
The poem says, "A handful of pure earth covers romance and talent."