Meanings of 晡
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About 晡
Podcast: 晡
Podcast: 晡
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AI Study Notes for 晡
晌 (shǎng) refers to midday or noon, while 晡 (bū) specifically denotes the late afternoon; use 晡 when indicating the time period between 3 to 5 p.m.
Learners often confuse 晡 with similar characters that relate to time. It's important to use it in contexts discussing daily schedules or literary texts. Note that this term is more formal and can be less commonly used in casual conversations.
While 晡 is not found in the HSK vocabulary lists, it is beneficial for learners to understand time-related words. Students at HSK Level 3 and above should focus on time expressions and how to integrate them into sentences, as this deepens understanding of daily routines.
Learners might mistakenly use 晡 interchangeably with other time-related terms like 下午 or 晚上. For example, saying '我们晚上三点见' (Let's meet at 3 p.m. in the evening) is incorrect; instead, use '我们下午三点见' for afternoon.
Pronunciation of 晡
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Etymology of 晡
sun
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 晡
- 1The meaning half日 carries the sense.
- 2The sound half甫 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
- 3The giveawaysun
- 4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 晡? 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
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Decomposition of 晡
Identify the Components
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How to say late afternoon in Chinese
“late afternoon” in Chinese is晡
The character 晡 (bū) refers to the late afternoon period, specifically between 3 to 5 p.m. It is often used in literary or formal contexts rather than in everyday conversation, making it somewhat less common among beginner learners but useful for understanding time-related vocabulary.
When to use 晡
Learners often confuse 晡 with similar characters that relate to time. It's important to use it in contexts discussing daily schedules or literary texts. Note that this term is more formal and can be less commonly used in casual conversations.
晡 or something close to it
晌 (shǎng) refers to midday or noon, while 晡 (bū) specifically denotes the late afternoon; use 晡 when indicating the time period between 3 to 5 p.m.
What learners get wrong
Learners might mistakenly use 晡 interchangeably with other time-related terms like 下午 or 晚上. For example, saying '我们晚上三点见' (Let's meet at 3 p.m. in the evening) is incorrect; instead, use '我们下午三点见' for afternoon.
Write 晡
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Practice writing 晡 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Word Family of 晡
Compound Meaning
What does 晡 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 晡
You can say '我下午三点到五点有事, 晡的时候再见' (I have plans from 3 to 5 p.m., see you in the late afternoon).
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