to begin; man, father; great; a distance of ten li
d, 7 strokes, radical 用, rank #25659, Hard
甫
fǔ
(classical) barely
unknown, 7 strokes, radical 用, rank #25659, Hard
甫
fǔ
just
unknown, 7 strokes, radical 用, rank #25659, Hard
甫
fǔ
just now
unknown, 7 strokes, radical 用, rank #25659, Hard
fǔ(fu3) T3
1to begin; man, father; great; a distance of ten li
2(classical) barely
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
甫fǔ(fu3)
The character 甫 (fǔ) primarily means 'to begin' or 'just now'. It can also refer to a man or father in classical texts, and it may denote a distance of ten li, which is an ancient Chinese measurement. Its usage is often found in literary or historical contexts, reflecting its classical roots.
Strokes7Radical用Frequency#25659DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese literature, 甫 often appears in poems or classical texts to signify new beginnings or moments of change, reflecting the cultural value placed on the concept of starting anew.
Memory Tip
Imagine a man (father) just beginning to walk ten li on a journey. The character 甫 looks like a man starting off, with the left part resembling a person and the right part suggesting distance. Visualizing this journey helps connect the character to its meaning.
Meanings of 甫
fǔ(fu3)
1to begin; man, father; great; a distance of ten li
2(classical) barely
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 甫
甫Simplified
7Strokes
用Radical
副词fùcíadverb (adv.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 甫
Podcast: 甫
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 甫
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a man (father) just beginning to walk ten li on a journey. The character 甫 looks like a man starting off, with the left part resembling a person and the right part suggesting distance. Visualizing this journey helps connect the character to its meaning.
Usage Notes
Be cautious with the register when using 甫; it is more formal and often found in classical literature rather than everyday conversation. Common collocations include '甫开始' (just began) and '甫见' (just saw). Avoid confusing it with similar-sounding words; pay attention to tone.
HSK Study Tips
Although not part of the HSK curriculum, 甫 appears in classical texts, which can be useful for advanced learners. Students should focus on its historical context and how it relates to other words indicating beginnings or measurements.
Cultural Note
In Chinese literature, 甫 often appears in poems or classical texts to signify new beginnings or moments of change, reflecting the cultural value placed on the concept of starting anew.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 甫 with phrases like 复 (fù) or 辅 (fǔ) due to similar pronunciation. For example, using 复 instead of 甫 in '甫开始' (just began) would be incorrect; the correct term is '甫开始'.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 甫
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 甫 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 甫 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
Grammar Patterns of 甫
甫 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 4 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
克佐____那平淡无奇的瘦脸忽然严厉起来.
Ke Tso - fu's lean, ordinary - looking face suddenly took on a severe expression.
Example Sentences for 甫 (7)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
克佐甫那平淡无奇的瘦脸忽然严厉起来.
kè zuǒ fǔ nà píng dàn wú qí de shòu liǎn hū rán yán lì qǐ lái.
Ke Tso - fu's lean, ordinary - looking face suddenly took on a severe expression.
2
吴荪 甫 眉毛一挺, 心头的焦躁好像减轻了些微.
wú sūn fǔ méi máo, yī tǐng , xīn tóu de jiāo zào hǎo xiàng jiǎn qīng.
Wu Sun - fu's irascibility appeared to have abated somewhat , for his frown disappeared.
The maid , Wang Mah , came in with a bowl of bird's - nest gruel for him.
Cultural Notes for 甫
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese literature, 甫 often appears in poems or classical texts to signify new beginnings or moments of change, reflecting the cultural value placed on the concept of starting anew.
Word Family of 甫
Words Containing This Character10
甫fǔjust
杜甫Du Fu (712-770), great Tang dynasty poet
皇甫two-character surname Huangfu
神甫(spiritual) father
辜振甫Koo Chen-fu (1917-2005), Taiwanese businessman and diplomat
