Meaning Index
Learn Chinese characters with the meaning "to spread", including 传 (chuán / zhuàn), 布 (bù), 流 (liú), 广 (guǎng), 铺 (pū / pù). Study pinyin, English meanings…
The English word "to spread" covers 5 different Chinese characters — 传 (chuán / zhuàn), 布 (bù), 流 (liú), 广 (guǎng), 铺 (pū / pù) — and each is its own word with its own feel. These 5 characters do not share a sound — their readings span chuán, zhuàn, bù, liú, guǎng, pū, and more — so confirm the pinyin and tone for each one separately. The example sentences further down show how 传 and the others are actually used, so you learn them in context rather than as a single translation.
Anchor each of these 5 characters in a word you can picture — start with 传 (chuán / zhuàn) — so "to spread" turns into concrete usage instead of a one-to-one translation.
Each character below is shown in a short example sentence with pinyin and an English translation — the quickest way to feel the difference between the 5 ways to say "to spread".
这个故事一直流传到今天。Zhè ge gù shi yì zhí liú chuán dào jīn tiān.This story has been passed down to this day.
Common words: 宣传 (xuān chuán)、传说 (chuán shuō)、传播 (chuán bō)
妈妈用一块布做了一个袋子。Mā ma yòng yí kuài bù zuò le yí ge dài zi.Mom made a bag out of a piece of cloth.
Common words: 宣布 (xuān bù)、公布 (gōng bù)、布置 (bù zhì)
小河的水静静地流着。Xiǎo hé de shuǐ jìng jìng de liú zhe.The water of the little river flows quietly.
Common words: 流行 (liú xíng)、流利 (liú lì)、交流 (jiāo liú)
这个广场非常大。Zhè ge guǎng chǎng fēi cháng dà.This square is very big.
Common words: 广告 (guǎng gào)、广场 (guǎng chǎng)、广播 (guǎng bō)
床上铺着一条干净的床单。Chuáng shàng pū zhe yì tiáo gān jìng de chuáng dān.A clean sheet is spread on the bed.
Common words: 卧铺 (wò pù)、铺路 (pū lù)、铺子 (pù zi)
Open 传、布、流 or any character below to hear it read aloud and see it used in an example sentence.