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March 24, 2026
父fù(fu4)
The character 父 (fù) means 'father' in Mandarin. It is commonly used to refer to one's dad or to indicate paternal relationships. In formal contexts, it can also imply respect for one's father or elder male figures.
Strokes4Radical父Frequency#2929DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the role of the father is traditionally seen as the provider and protector of the family. The concept of filial piety (孝, xiào) emphasizes respect and care for one’s father, which is a significant aspect of Chinese familial values.
Memory Tip
Imagine a father (父) standing tall, symbolizing authority and protection. The character has a shape that resembles a person with arms and legs, emphasizing the idea of a strong figure. The pronunciation 'fù' can remind you of 'foot,' as a father is often seen as the 'foot' of the family, supporting and nurturing.
Meanings of 父
fù(fu4)
1father
2father, dad
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About 父
父Simplified
4Strokes
父Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#2929Frequency Rank
Podcast: 父
Podcast: 父
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AI Study Notes for 父
Quick Contrast
父 (fù) vs 父亲 (fùqīn) — use 父 for a more formal or literary reference to 'father', while 父亲 is more commonly used in everyday speech.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 父 (fù) with 夫 (fū), which means 'husband.' In formal contexts, 父 is often used in compound words like 父亲 (fùqīn), meaning 'father.' Additionally, remember to use the correct tone; mispronouncing it as 'fu' can change the meaning.
HSK Study Tips
While 父 is not explicitly listed in HSK vocabulary, it connects well with other family-related words. Students should focus on its usage in family contexts and compounds, such as 父母 (fùmǔ) for 'parents.'
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 父 with 夫 (husband) due to similar pronunciation. For example, saying '我的夫是医生' (wǒ de fū shì yīshēng) instead of '我的父亲是医生' (wǒ de fùqīn shì yīshēng) means 'My husband is a doctor' instead of 'My father is a doctor.'
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 父
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How Well Do You Know 父?
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Knowing 父 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
Pictograph of a hand holding something. There are various theories about what the object being held is, including a hatchet (now written as 斧), or a rod.
The character 父 (fù) means 'father' in Mandarin. It is commonly used to refer to one's dad or to indicate paternal relationships. In formal contexts, it can also imply respect for one's father or elder male figures.
When to use 父
Be careful not to confuse 父 (fù) with 夫 (fū), which means 'husband.' In formal contexts, 父 is often used in compound words like 父亲 (fùqīn), meaning 'father.' Additionally, remember to use the correct tone; mispronouncing it as 'fu' can change the meaning.
父 or something close to it
父 (fù) vs 父亲 (fùqīn) — use 父 for a more formal or literary reference to 'father', while 父亲 is more commonly used in everyday speech.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 父 with 夫 (husband) due to similar pronunciation. For example, saying '我的夫是医生' (wǒ de fū shì yīshēng) instead of '我的父亲是医生' (wǒ de fùqīn shì yīshēng) means 'My husband is a doctor' instead of 'My father is a doctor.'
Write 父
父
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Grammar Patterns of 父
父 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 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.
When his master's off traveling, Caleb stays with Pierre's parents.
8
神父在他上方画了个十字。
shén fù zài tā shàng fāng huà le gè shí zì。
The priest made the sign of the cross over him.
9
和父母呆了几个星期后，她感到自己毫无自由。
hé fù mǔ dāi le jī gè xīng qī hòu， ， tā gǎn dào zì jǐ háo wú zì。
After a few weeks with her parents, she felt she was suffocating.
10
父母可以休13个星期的亲子假。
fù mǔ kě yǐ xiū13 13 gè xīng qī de qīn zǐ。
Parents are entitled to 13 weeks' parental leave.
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Cultural Notes for 父
💡Did you know?
'父' is a fundamental character in Chinese culture, representing the paternal figure. In many Chinese families, the father's role is often associated with authority and responsibility.
Word Family of 父
Compounds8
爸ba4father
交jiao1to hand over
爷ye2grandpa
爹die1father, dad, daddy
斧fu3axe, hatchet; to chop, to hew
釜fu3cauldron, kettle, pot
爺ye2grandfather, old man
蚥
Words Containing This Character20
父亲fùqīnfather父親
父母fùmǔparents
父fùfather
神父(spiritual) father
师父shīfumaster師父
父子fùzǐfather and son
祖父zǔfùfather's father
教父godfather
父女fùnǚfather and daughter
岳父yuèfùwife's father, father-in-law
继父jìfùstepfather繼父
父母亲parents父母親
生父biological father
伯父bófùfather's elder brother
父辈people of one's parents' generation父輩
祖父母paternal grandparents
家父(polite) my father
叔父uncle
曾祖父father's father's father
养父foster father養父
Exercise 1 of 4
Characters with 父
What does 爸 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 父
父 (fù) is a more formal term for 'father', while 爸 (bà) is an informal and affectionate way to say 'dad'. Typically, 爸 is used in casual conversations, especially among family members, whereas 父 might be used in more formal contexts.
In Chinese culture, the character 父 (fù) holds significant importance, symbolizing the role of a father in the family structure. It is often associated with respect and authority, reflecting traditional values of filial piety and the importance of family hierarchy.
父 (fù) means 'father' in Chinese. It is a term used to refer to one's dad or male parent, and is an important character in familial relationships. In various contexts, it can also imply respect or authority associated with fatherhood.
You can use 父 (fù) in a sentence like '我的父亲很忙' (Wǒ de fùqīn hěn máng), which means 'My father is very busy.' It’s often paired with other characters to specify relationships, such as in '父母' (fùmǔ), which means 'parents'.
It is pronounced 'fù' with a falling tone.
父 (fù) is a more formal term for 'father,' while 父亲 (fùqīn) is a common way to say 'dad' and is often used in everyday conversation.
Yes, 父 can be used to refer to anyone's father in a respectful manner, but it's more common to use 父亲 in everyday situations.
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