潑

Phono-semantic compound, consists of:

水 (氵) — semantic, water, liquid, flowing

發 (필 발) — phonetic, gives the sound bal / pō and connotes “to emit, to shoot out,” reinforcing the idea of forceful motion

Thus 潑 originally meant “to emit or fling (something) in water form.”

In modern Korean, 潑 is not common outside Hanja education and scholarly or artistic contexts. Compound 潑墨 (발묵) is best known in 문인화, 수묵화 terminology.

潑水 (발수) — splashing water (rare; mostly academic)

潑墨 (발묵) — splash-ink technique in East Asian painting

潑 combines:

- the liquid element (氵)

- the explosive, emitting motion of 發

Thus it conveys force + water, stronger than general words like 洒 (to sprinkle lightly).

Distinction from similar characters:

潑 — violent splash

洒 — to sprinkle

漏 — to leak

濺 — to splash (fine spray)

潑 vs. 溌 — overlapping etymology but used in distinct compounds

Figurative extension in Chinese:

潑辣 (bold, daring) - metaphor from splashed water scattering in all directions, uncontrolled.

In art 潑墨 (splash-ink) technique became influential in:

- Song dynasty painting

- Zen/Chan aesthetics

- modern East Asian calligraphy and ink art

It emphasizes spontaneity, dynamic motion, and abstraction.

Classical citations:

《宋史·五行志》 (History of Song Dynasty)

「風雨暴至，水潑如注。」

“In the sudden storm, the water splashed down like it was being poured from a vessel.”

《元曲·窦娥冤》 (Yuan Dynasty Drama)

「潑天大禍。」

“A calamity as vast as the heavens being splashed open” — figurative usage meaning overwhelming disaster.

溌 (발 / pō) — phonetic/semantic variant, also means “splash, leap (of water), jump,” and is etymologically related to 潑.