暴

The glyph operates on two distinct semantic tracks based on reading:

1. Reading //bào//: Denotes an explosive or precipitous quality. This includes physical/natural suddenness (e.g., a sudden storm) and behavioral or political tyranny, often characterized by impulsivity or a lack of restraint in the exercise of power.

2. Reading //pù//: To expose to the sun; to dry, bleach, or leave out in the open.

• Adjective: brutal, sudden, abrupt.
• Verb: to expose (to the sun); to commit an act of violence or a sudden outburst.
• Adverbial: suddenly, abruptly.

Contrast //bào// with 猛 (//měng//): while //měng// refers to raw ferocity or power, //bào// emphasizes the abruptness of the action or the absence of restraint.

The reading //pù// is often represented by the semantic variant 曝 (U+8663).

Determine which reading is active before refining nuance. For the reading //pù//, look for contextual clues involving agriculture (grain), textiles (laundry), or judicial punishment (exposure to the elements).