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March 24, 2026
抚(撫)fǔ(fu3)
The character 抚 (fǔ) primarily means to comfort or console someone, often through physical gestures like stroking or caressing. It can also refer to an older term for a province or provincial governor, indicating historical significance in governance. In modern usage, it is often associated with providing emotional support.
Strokes7Radical扌Frequency#17383DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the act of comforting someone physically, such as through a gentle stroke, is seen as a vital way to express empathy and support. This reflects the value placed on emotional connections and care within relationships.
Memory Tip
Imagine a gentle hand 'stroking' a heart to provide comfort; the left part of the character, 手 (shǒu), means hand, and the right part, 扶 (fú), can remind you of 'support' or 'to assist'. Visualize someone using their hand to 'pat' someone on the back, symbolizing care and comfort.
Meanings of 抚
fǔ(fu3)
1to comfort
2to console
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 抚
抚Simplified
撫Traditional
7Strokes
扌Radical
地名míngcíplace name (p.n.)Part of Speech
#17383Frequency Rank
Podcast: 抚
Podcast: 抚
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AI Study Notes for 抚
Quick Contrast
安慰 (ānwèi) vs 抚 (fǔ): Use 安慰 for verbal comfort or consolation, while 抚 emphasizes physical gestures of comfort.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a gentle hand 'stroking' a heart to provide comfort; the left part of the character, 手 (shǒu), means hand, and the right part, 扶 (fú), can remind you of 'support' or 'to assist'. Visualize someone using their hand to 'pat' someone on the back, symbolizing care and comfort.
Usage Notes
Be aware of the context when using 抚, as it can sound overly formal or poetic in casual conversation. Common collocations include 抚慰 (comfort) and 抚养 (raise, as in to nurture a child). Pay attention to the tone; mispronouncing it can lead to misunderstandings.
HSK Study Tips
Although 抚 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it connects to other words related to emotions and relationships, like 爱 (love) and 关心 (care). Students should focus on the emotional connotations and practice using it in comforting contexts.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the act of comforting someone physically, such as through a gentle stroke, is seen as a vital way to express empathy and support. This reflects the value placed on emotional connections and care within relationships.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 抚 with 安慰, mistakenly using one when the other is more appropriate; for example, saying '我抚她' (I comfort her) when the emotional context is better suited for 安慰. Additionally, using it without the proper context can sound overly formal, such as '抚我的朋友' (pat my friend) instead of simply saying '安慰我的朋友'.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 抚
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Grammar Patterns of 抚
抚 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 6 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
这些孩子在____育院等待安置。
The children were waiting for placement in a foster care home.
Common Confusions with 抚
抚vs扶
fú
Similar shape and pronunciation, but different meanings.
Exercise 1 of 1
Spot the Difference
Which character means "to comfort"?
or
Example Sentences for 抚 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
这些孩子在抚育院等待安置。
zhè xiē hái zǐ zài fǔ yù yuàn děng dài ān zhì。
The children were waiting for placement in a foster care home.
2
仍然有许多女性为了抚养孩子而离职。
réng rán yǒu xǔ duō nǚ xìng wéi le fǔ yǎng hái zǐ ér lí zhí。
Many women still take career breaks to bring up children.
3
作为单身母亲，我独自抚养我的3个孩子。
zuò wéi dān shēn mǔ qīn， ， wǒ dú zì fǔ yǎng wǒ3 de 3 gè。
I was bringing up my three children as a single parent.
4
我独自一人抚养了7个孩子。
wǒ dú zì yī rén fǔ yǎng le7 7 gè hái。
I brought up my seven children single-handed.
5
警察伸手抚摸那只猎狼犬。
jǐng chá shēn shǒu fǔ mō nà zhī liè láng quǎn。
The policeman reached down and petted the wolfhound.
6
他会把她揽在怀中抚慰她。
tā huì bǎ tā lǎn zài huái zhōng fǔ wèi tā。
He would take her in his arms and soothe her.
7
他的职责是安抚那些人，而不是去激怒他们。
tā de zhí zé shì ān fǔ nà xiē rén， ， ér bù shì qù jī nù tā。
His duty was to conciliate the people, not to provoke them.
8
她走上前拥抱他并轻抚他凌乱的白发。
tā zǒu shàng qián yōng bào tā bìng qīng fǔ tā líng luàn de bái fā。
She walked forward and embraced him and stroked his tousled white hair.
Who brings up the baby and who brings home the bacon?
10
“不要为那个感到沮丧，”他一边说，一边抚弄着本乌黑的卷发。
“ “ bù yào wéi nà gè gǎn dào jǔ，” sāng ，” tā yī， biān shuō ， yī biān fǔ nòng zháo běn wū hēi。
"Don't let that get you down," he said ruffling Ben's dark curls.
Cultural Notes for 抚
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the act of comforting someone physically, such as through a gentle stroke, is seen as a vital way to express empathy and support. This reflects the value placed on emotional connections and care within relationships.
Word Family of 抚
Words Containing This Character20
抚养fǔyǎngto foster撫養
抚摸fǔmōto pet撫摸
抚fǔto comfort撫
安抚ānfǔto placate安撫
抚慰to console撫慰
爱抚to caress愛撫
抚顺also Fushun county撫順
巡抚inspector-general of province in Ming and Qing times巡撫
抚恤金relief payment撫恤金
抚养费fǔyǎngfèichild support payment (after a divorce)撫養費
抚育to nurture撫育
抚平to flatten撫平
抚摩to stroke撫摩
抚恤fǔxù(of an organization that has a duty of care) to give financial support to relatives of sb who has died or suffered serious injury撫卹
抚州Fuzhou prefecture-level city in Jiangxi撫州
抚顺市Fushun prefecture-level city in Liaoning province 遼寧省|辽宁省 in northeast China撫順市
抚琴to play the zither撫琴
督抚governor general 总督 and inspector general 巡抚督撫
抚州市Fuzhou prefecture-level city in Jiangxi撫州市
招抚to bring to negotiated surrender招撫
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 抚养 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 抚
While both mean to comfort, 抚 often implies a physical gesture like stroking, whereas 安慰 focuses more on verbal reassurance.
Yes, it can be used in formal writing or speeches, especially when discussing emotional support or care.
It may not be as common in casual speech, but it is used in more poetic or heartfelt contexts.
