smear, spread, paint

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Components
涂 sound component

  Sound component

  

smear, spread, paint

土 meaning component

  Meaning component

  

earth

Evolution

塗 Seal script Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal script

Shuowen (~100 AD)
塗 Clerical script Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical script

Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
塗 Clerical script Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical script

Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
塗 Clerical script Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical script

Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
塗 Regular script Modern

Regular script

Modern
Definitions

() 

smear, daub, apply, spread; paint; to apply (paint etc); to smear; to daub; to blot out; to scribble; to scrawl; (literary) mud; street

Most common words with 塗
Freq.
Word
Meaning

to smear

糊涂

muddled

一塌糊涂

complete shambles

涂料

paint

涂鸦

graffiti