to begin; man, father; great; a distance of ten li
d, 7 strokes, radical 用, rank #25659, Very Hard
甫
fǔ
(classical) barely
unknown, 7 strokes, radical 用, rank #25659, Very Hard
甫
fǔ
just
unknown, 7 strokes, radical 用, rank #25659, Very Hard
甫
fǔ
just now
unknown, 7 strokes, radical 用, rank #25659, Very Hard
fǔ(fu3) T3
1to begin; man, father; great; a distance of ten li
2(classical) barely
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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#25659DifficultyVery Hard
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
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AI Study Notes for 甫
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.
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
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Pictograph of something sprouting (屮) from a field (田), depicting a garden or orchard, now written as 圃. The current meaning is a phonetic loan.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 甫? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Decomposition of 甫
IDS Structure⿻十用
甫Full Character
=
十shi2
outer
用yong4
inner
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 甫?
How to say to begin; man, father; great; a distance of ten li in Chinese
“to begin; man, father; great; a distance of ten li” in Chinese is甫fǔ
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.
When to use 甫
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.
What learners get wrong
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'.
Write 甫
甫
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Practice writing 甫 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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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)
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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.
