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March 24, 2026
孵fū(fu1)
The character 孵 (fū) refers to the process of brooding over eggs, typically by birds, to facilitate hatching. This term is commonly used in contexts related to animal breeding, incubation, and the nurturing of eggs until they hatch into young. It emphasizes care and warmth during the incubation period.
Strokes14Radical子Frequency#20389DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of hatching or incubating is often associated with the nurturing of new life, reflecting the importance of family and continuity. The tradition of raising chickens for food and symbolism in festivals often features this term.
Memory Tip
Imagine a mother hen sitting on her eggs, gently 'fū'-ing them with her warmth so they can hatch. The character 孵 is composed of the radical for 'child' (子) at the bottom, suggesting nurturing and care, while the top part indicates the action of sitting or brooding.
Meanings of 孵
fū(fu1)
1to brood over eggs, to incubate, to hatch
2breeding
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 孵
孵Simplified
14Strokes
子Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 孵
Podcast: 孵
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AI Study Notes for 孵
Quick Contrast
孵 (fū) vs 养 (yǎng) — use 孵 specifically for the brooding of eggs, while 养 refers to raising or nurturing animals more generally.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a mother hen sitting on her eggs, gently 'fū'-ing them with her warmth so they can hatch. The character 孵 is composed of the radical for 'child' (子) at the bottom, suggesting nurturing and care, while the top part indicates the action of sitting or brooding.
Usage Notes
A common mistake is to confuse 孵 with 赋 (fù), which means to assign or grant. 孵 is typically used in informal contexts, such as everyday conversation about animals, rather than in formal writing. Be mindful of tone; the pronunciation 'fū' must have the first tone for accuracy.
HSK Study Tips
While 孵 is not included in the official HSK list, it connects with basic vocabulary around animals and nature. Focus on understanding how this term is used in combination with related terms like 蛋 (dàn), meaning 'egg', to deepen your comprehension.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of hatching or incubating is often associated with the nurturing of new life, reflecting the importance of family and continuity. The tradition of raising chickens for food and symbolism in festivals often features this term.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mispronounce 孵 as 'fù' instead of the correct 'fū'. An example of wrong usage would be saying '我在孵鸟' (Wǒ zài fù niǎo) instead of '我在孵蛋' (Wǒ zài fū dàn) when referring to hatching eggs.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 孵
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Grammar Patterns of 孵
孵 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
鸟儿回到巢里继续____卵。
The birds returned to their nests and continued to incubate the eggs.
Example Sentences for 孵 (7)
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1
鸟儿回到巢里继续孵卵。
niǎo ér huí dào cháo lǐ jì xù fū luǎn。
The birds returned to their nests and continued to incubate the eggs.
The bird mistook the pebble for egg and tried to hatch it.
4
这些时期，鸟儿会趴在笼底，好像在下蛋或孵蛋。
zhè xiē shí qī， ， niǎo ér huì pā zài lóng， dǐ ， hǎo xiàng zài xià dàn huò。
During these periods the birds will lie on the cage floor as if trying to lay or hatch eggs.
5
虫卵进入淡水,孵化成毛蚴.
chóng luǎn jìn rù dàn shuǐ, , fū huà chéng máo.
Eggs that reach fresh water hatch into ciliated miracidia.
6
那只蛋的壳厚0.14毫米，新孵出的雏鸟重9克。
nà zhī dàn de ké hòu0.14 0.14 háo， mǐ ， xīn fū chū de chú9 niǎo。
The egg had a shell thickness of 14mm and the newly-hatched chick weighed nine grams.
7
蛋尚未孵出,勿先数鸡.
dàn shàng wèi fū chū, , wù xiān shù.
Don't count your chickens before they are hatched.
Cultural Notes for 孵
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the concept of hatching or incubating is often associated with the nurturing of new life, reflecting the importance of family and continuity. The tradition of raising chickens for food and symbolism in festivals often features this term.
Word Family of 孵
Words Containing This Character7
孵化fūhuàbreeding
孵fūbreeding
孵化器incubator
孵育to incubate
孵卵to hatch
孵化场incubator孵化場
孵化期incubation period
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 孵化 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 孵
You can say '母鸡在孵蛋' (Mǔ jī zài fū dàn) which means 'The hen is incubating the eggs.'
While it primarily refers to birds, 孵 can also be used metaphorically in contexts involving the nurturing of other types of eggs or ideas.
The tone for 孵 is the first tone (fū), which is high and level.
