Meanings of 婦
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About 婦
Podcast: 婦
Podcast: 婦
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AI Study Notes for 婦
妻 (qī, wife) vs 婦 (fù, married woman) — use 妻 when specifically referring to 'wife' in a personal context, while 婦 has a broader, more formal connotation.
This term is more formal than some alternatives for 'wife' and is typically used in written Chinese or formal speech. Be cautious not to confuse it with 妻 (qī), which also means 'wife' but is more common in everyday language.
While 婦 is not included in the HSK vocabulary list, it connects with words like 妻子 (qīzi, wife) and 女 (nǚ, female). Focus on recognizing it in context and understanding its use in formal settings.
Learners often confuse 婦 (fù) with 妻 (qī) and use them interchangeably, when in fact, 婦 is more formal. For example, saying '我爱我的婦' (wǒ ài wǒ de fù) sounds awkward; it's better to say '我爱我的妻子' (wǒ ài wǒ de qīzi).
Pronunciation of 婦
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Etymology of 婦
Simplified form of 婦. Phonosemantic compound. 女 represents the meaning and 帚 represents the sound. The 帚 (broom) component may also be related to the meaning, since women were traditionally responsible for household chores.
A woman 女 with a broom 帚
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 婦
Simplified form of 婦. Phonosemantic compound. 女 represents the meaning and 帚 represents the sound. The 帚 (broom) component may also be related to the meaning, since women were traditionally responsible for household chores.
- 1The giveawayA woman 女 with a broom 帚
- 2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 婦? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 婦?
Decomposition of 婦
Identify the Components
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How to say married woman; wife in Chinese
“married woman; wife” in Chinese is婦
The character 婦 (fù) refers to a married woman or wife. It is often used in formal contexts and appears in various compounds, emphasizing the role of women in family and societal structures.
When to use 婦
This term is more formal than some alternatives for 'wife' and is typically used in written Chinese or formal speech. Be cautious not to confuse it with 妻 (qī), which also means 'wife' but is more common in everyday language.
婦 or something close to it
妻 (qī, wife) vs 婦 (fù, married woman) — use 妻 when specifically referring to 'wife' in a personal context, while 婦 has a broader, more formal connotation.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 婦 (fù) with 妻 (qī) and use them interchangeably, when in fact, 婦 is more formal. For example, saying '我爱我的婦' (wǒ ài wǒ de fù) sounds awkward; it's better to say '我爱我的妻子' (wǒ ài wǒ de qīzi).
Write 婦
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Practice writing 婦 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Cultural Notes for 婦
In Western cultures, the concept of a wife can often carry different connotations of independence and equality compared to traditional views in Chinese culture, where roles may be more clearly defined.
Word Family of 婦
Compound Meaning
What does 妇女 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 婦
No, 婦 is more commonly found in formal writing or literature, while 妻子 (qīzi) is preferred in everyday speech.
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