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卟 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
a chemical compound; divination; to considerx, 5 strokes, radical 口, Very Hard
(bu3) T3
  1. 1a chemical compound; divination; to consider
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
(bu3)

The character 卟 (bǔ) refers to a chemical compound and is often used in scientific contexts, particularly in chemistry. It can also imply the act of considering or divining, making it a term that can bridge both technical and philosophical discussions.

Strokes5RadicalFrequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese medicine and ancient practices, divination plays a significant role; thus, the dual meaning of 卟 connects science and traditional beliefs, reflecting how both can coexist in Chinese culture.

Memory Tip

Imagine a bubbling potion in a lab (the chemical aspect of 卟), and visualize a wizard contemplating the future (the divination aspect). The character looks like a bubbling cauldron over a fire, reminding you of transformation and consideration in both science and foresight.

Meanings of 卟

(bu3)
1a chemical compound; divination; to consider
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 卟

Simplified
5Strokes
Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 卟

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Podcast:

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AI Study Notes for 卟

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a bubbling potion in a lab (the chemical aspect of 卟), and visualize a wizard contemplating the future (the divination aspect). The character looks like a bubbling cauldron over a fire, reminding you of transformation and consideration in both science and foresight.

Usage Notes

This character is rarely used in everyday conversation and is more common in scientific literature. Learners often confuse it with more common characters; ensure you use it in the right context to avoid sounding overly formal or esoteric.

HSK Study Tips

While 卟 is not included in the HSK vocabulary list, it connects to advanced scientific terms and compounds. Students should focus on understanding its usage in chemistry and its role in specialized discussions to build a broader vocabulary in technical subjects.

Cultural Note

In Chinese medicine and ancient practices, divination plays a significant role; thus, the dual meaning of 卟 connects science and traditional beliefs, reflecting how both can coexist in Chinese culture.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 卟 with similar characters like 不 (bù) or 否 (fǒu), which have different meanings. A common mistake is using 卟 in casual contexts or when expressing negation, where 不 would be appropriate.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 卟

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Etymology of 卟

Formation TypeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Memory Hint

To speak 口 of the future 卜; 卜 also provides the pronunciation

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 卟?

Decomposition of 卟

IDS Structure⿰口卜
Full Character
=
kou3
left
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 卟?

Write 卟

Practice writing stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Cultural Notes for 卟

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese medicine and ancient practices, divination plays a significant role; thus, the dual meaning of 卟 connects science and traditional beliefs, reflecting how both can coexist in Chinese culture.

Word Family of 卟

Words Containing This Character2
see 卟啉, porphyrin
卟啉porphyrin (organic chemical essential to hemoglobin and chlorophyll) (loanword)
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 卟 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 卟

In chemistry, 卟 refers to specific chemical compounds such as porphyrin and porphin.