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普 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
普
pǔ
general
ad, 12 strokes, radical 日, rank #2680, Medium
普
pǔ
popular
ad, 12 strokes, radical 日, rank #2680, Medium
普
pǔ
everywhere
ad, 12 strokes, radical 日, rank #2680, Medium
普
pǔ
universal
ad, 12 strokes, radical 日, rank #2680, Medium
普
pǔ
widespread, universal, general
ad, 12 strokes, radical 日, rank #2680, Medium
pǔ(pu3)pu T3
1general
2popular
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March 24, 2026
普pǔ(pu3)
The character 普 (pǔ) conveys the idea of something being general, popular, or widespread. It is commonly used to describe concepts, practices, or items that are universally accepted or prevalent in society, such as 普通 (pǔtōng), meaning 'common' or 'ordinary'. Its usage emphasizes inclusivity and a lack of exclusivity.
Strokes12Radical日Frequency#2680DifficultyMedium
Cultural note
普 is often seen in the phrase 普世价值 (pǔshì jiàzhí), meaning 'universal values', which reflects the emphasis on global human rights and ethics in modern Chinese society. This concept is significant in discussions around morality and societal norms.
Memory tip
Imagine a 'puppy' (sounds like 'pǔ') that is loved by everyone in the neighborhood. The puppy symbolizes something that is universally adored and found everywhere, just like the meaning of 普, which signifies generality and popularity.
Meanings of 普
pǔ(pu3)
1general
2popular
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
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About 普
普Simplified
12Strokes
日Radical
副形词xíngróngcíadj-adverb (adj.-adv.)Part of Speech
#2680Frequency Rank
Podcast: 普
Podcast: 普
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AI study notes for 普
Quick Contrast
普 (pǔ) vs 常 (cháng) — use 普 for something that is general or widespread, while 常 emphasizes frequency or habitual occurrence.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 普 with similar terms like 常 (cháng, meaning 'often') or 通 (tōng, meaning 'to pass through'). It's important to use 普 in contexts where you are emphasizing generality or widespread nature. Remember that it is more informal and should be used with appropriate collocations, such as 普遍 (pǔbiàn) for 'universal'.
HSK Study Tips
Although 普 is not a specific HSK level word, it connects well with HSK 3 vocabulary, especially words that describe common experiences or feelings. Focus on using it in sentences related to everyday life to strengthen your understanding.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes use 普 incorrectly by pairing it with words that suggest exclusivity, such as 'elite' or 'special'. For instance, saying 普特 (pǔ tè) instead of using the correct term for 'special', which would be 特别 (tèbié).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 普
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The character 普 (pǔ) conveys the idea of something being general, popular, or widespread. It is commonly used to describe concepts, practices, or items that are universally accepted or prevalent in society, such as 普通 (pǔtōng), meaning 'common' or 'ordinary'. Its usage emphasizes inclusivity and a lack of exclusivity.
When to use 普
Learners often confuse 普 with similar terms like 常 (cháng, meaning 'often') or 通 (tōng, meaning 'to pass through'). It's important to use 普 in contexts where you are emphasizing generality or widespread nature. Remember that it is more informal and should be used with appropriate collocations, such as 普遍 (pǔbiàn) for 'universal'.
普 or something close to it
普 (pǔ) vs 常 (cháng) — use 普 for something that is general or widespread, while 常 emphasizes frequency or habitual occurrence.
What learners get wrong
Learners sometimes use 普 incorrectly by pairing it with words that suggest exclusivity, such as 'elite' or 'special'. For instance, saying 普特 (pǔ tè) instead of using the correct term for 'special', which would be 特别 (tèbié).
Write 普
普
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Grammar patterns of 普
普 functions as an adverb — it modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb. In Chinese, adverbs sit BEFORE the verb they modify (我也去, 他常常迟到), never after it. It carries 5 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.
Jean-Phillippe had hitched all over Europe in the 1960s.
9
同时，达斯蒂·斯普林菲尔德的电视剧新作开始在BBC1台播放。
tóngshí， dá Sī dì· Sī pǔ lín fēi ěr dé de diànshìjù xīn zuō kāishǐ zàiBBC1 tái bōfàng。
Meanwhile, Dusty Springfield's new TV series began a run on BBC
10
有相当一部分普通员工不理睬工会的建议。
yǒu xiāngdāng yībùfen pǔtōng yuángōng bùlǐ cǎi gōnghuì de jiànyì。
Substantial numbers of rank and file members ignored their union's advice.
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Cultural Notes for 普
💡Did you know?
The character 普 reflects a philosophical idea of universality in Chinese culture. It signifies not just commonality but also inclusiveness, suggesting that certain values or practices should be accessible to everyone, much like the sun shines on all under its light.
Word Family of 普
Compounds6
谱pǔchart
镨pǔpraseodymium
氆pǔthick rough serge from Tibet
潽pūto boil over
譜pǔchart, list, table; spectrum; musical score
鐠pǔ
Words containing this character19
普通pǔtōngcommon
普遍pǔbiànuniversal
普pǔgeneral
普通人pǔtōngrénordinary person
普及pǔjíto generalize
辛普森xīnpǔsēnSimpson (name)
普通话pǔtōnghuàMandarin (common language)普通話
普京pǔjīngVladimir Putin (1952-), president of Russia
吉普jípǔJeep (car brand)
科普kēpǔpopular science
惠普huìpǔHewlett-Packard
普查pǔchácensus
普林斯顿pǔlínsīdùnPrinceton, New Jersey普林斯頓
夏普xiàpǔSharp Corporation
吉普车jípǔchējeep (military vehicle) (loanword)吉普車
多普勒duōpǔlèChristian Johann Doppler, Austrian physicist who discovered the Doppler effect
汤普森tāngpǔsēnThompson (name)湯普森
普遍性pǔbiànxìngubiquity
普普通通pǔpǔtōngtōngordinary
Exercise 1 of 4
Characters with 普
What does 谱 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 普
Yes, 普 is commonly used in everyday conversation, especially when discussing topics related to general or universal concepts. You might hear it in contexts ranging from education to social discussions.
Some common phrases that include 普 are '普及' (pǔjí), meaning 'to popularize', and '普遍性' (pǔbiànxìng), meaning 'universality'. These phrases highlight the versatility and importance of the character in expressing generality or popularity.
普 (pǔ) means 'general' or 'universal' in Chinese. It is often used to describe something that is widespread or commonly accepted. For example, it can refer to general knowledge or popular trends.
普 can be used in phrases like '普遍' (pǔbiàn), which means 'universal' or 'common'. You might say '这种现象在社会中是普遍存在的' (This phenomenon exists universally in society) to illustrate its usage.
In daily conversation, 普 can refer to things that are common or widely accepted, like 普通话 (pǔtōnghuà), which means 'Mandarin' as the common language.
Yes, 普 can be used in formal writing, especially in academic or philosophical contexts to describe general concepts or principles.
Yes, while both can mean 'common', 普 emphasizes universality and widespread acceptance, whereas 常 refers more to frequency.
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