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March 24, 2026
咐fù(fu4)
The character 咐 (fù) means to order or to instruct someone to do something. It is often used in contexts where a person is giving commands or directions, typically in a formal or authoritative manner. This character conveys a sense of directing someone's actions rather than merely suggesting.
Strokes8Radical口Frequency#2575DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese settings, the act of giving orders is often associated with hierarchical relationships, such as between a superior and subordinate, reflecting Confucian values of respect and authority in communication.
Memory Tip
Imagine a commanding figure pointing at a list of orders, their finger like the character's shape. The left side resembles a mouth (口), suggesting 'speaking' or 'instructing', while the right side, with its horizontal lines, can represent the act of giving clear directives.
Meanings of 咐
fù(fu4)
1to order
2to instruct; to order
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 咐 means.
About 咐
咐Simplified
8Strokes
口Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 咐
Podcast: 咐
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AI Study Notes for 咐
Quick Contrast
吩 (fēn) — use 吩 when implying a more casual or informal way of giving instructions.
Usage Notes
When using 咐, be mindful of its authoritative tone, which may not be suitable for informal conversations. Common collocations include 咐咐 (fù fù), which emphasizes instructing. Avoid using it in contexts where a softer suggestion would be more appropriate.
HSK Study Tips
Although 咐 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it is beneficial to recognize its structure and usage alongside other verbs of communication like 告诉 (gàosù - to tell) or 指示 (zhǐshì - to indicate), which are more common. Focus on understanding the context in which 咐 is used to build nuanced command vocabulary.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 咐 with 告诉, mistakenly using it in casual contexts, such as saying '咐我你要做什么' instead of '告诉我你要做什么'. Use 告诉 for softer communication.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 咐
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How Well Do You Know 咐?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 咐 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
咐 = 口 + 付. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 咐
IDS Structure⿰口付
咐Full Character
=
口kou3
left
付Fu4
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 咐?
How to say to order in Chinese
“to order” in Chinese is咐fù
The character 咐 (fù) means to order or to instruct someone to do something. It is often used in contexts where a person is giving commands or directions, typically in a formal or authoritative manner. This character conveys a sense of directing someone's actions rather than merely suggesting.
When to use 咐
When using 咐, be mindful of its authoritative tone, which may not be suitable for informal conversations. Common collocations include 咐咐 (fù fù), which emphasizes instructing. Avoid using it in contexts where a softer suggestion would be more appropriate.
咐 or something close to it
吩 (fēn) — use 吩 when implying a more casual or informal way of giving instructions.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 咐 with 告诉, mistakenly using it in casual contexts, such as saying '咐我你要做什么' instead of '告诉我你要做什么'. Use 告诉 for softer communication.
Write 咐
咐
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Practice writing 咐 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 咐
咐 carries 2 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
Exercise 1 of 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
如果我可以效劳的话，敬请吩____。
If I can be of service, I am at your disposal.
Example Sentences for 咐 (7)
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1
如果我可以效劳的话，敬请吩咐。
rú guǒ wǒ kě yǐ xiào láo de huà， ， jìng qǐng fēn。
If I can be of service, I am at your disposal.
2
她很善于让男人听她的吩咐！
tā hěn shàn yú ràng nán rén tīng tā de fēn fù！
She is very clever at getting men to do her bidding!
3
“特雷莎，告诉他们我所有的电话都别挂。”她吩咐她的服装师。
“ “ tè léi， suō ， gào sù tā mén wǒ suǒ yǒu de diàn huà dū。” bié guà 。” tā fēn fù tā de。
"Tell them to hold all my calls, Theresa," she instructed her dresser.
4
他的医生嘱咐他戒酒.
tā de yī shēng zhǔ fù tā jiè jiǔ.
His doctor ordered him to abstain from beer and wine.
