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March 24, 2026
符fú(Fu2)
The character 符 (fú) primarily denotes a mark, sign, or symbol, often associated with talismans or charms in Chinese culture. It can also mean to correspond or to seal, indicating alignment or agreement in various contexts. This character is commonly used in both formal and informal settings when discussing signs or written symbols.
Strokes11Radical⺮Frequency#15590DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, 符 often refers to talismans or charms used for protection or good fortune, especially in religious practices. They are believed to carry spiritual significance and can often be found in temples and shrines.
Memory Tip
Imagine a 'fu' (fú) seal, like a stamp, that marks a document, ensuring it has the right symbol. The left part of the character, '竹', resembles a bamboo, which is often associated with strength and flexibility, while the right part, '符', represents the idea of agreement or correspondence.
Meanings of 符
fú(Fu2)
1mark
2sign
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 符
符Simplified
11Strokes
⺮Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#15590Frequency Rank
Podcast: 符
Podcast: 符
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AI Study Notes for 符
Quick Contrast
符 (fú) vs 标 (biāo) — use 符 when referring to a mark or symbol with cultural significance, while 标 is more general for any kind of sign or label.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a 'fu' (fú) seal, like a stamp, that marks a document, ensuring it has the right symbol. The left part of the character, '竹', resembles a bamboo, which is often associated with strength and flexibility, while the right part, '符', represents the idea of agreement or correspondence.
Usage Notes
Be cautious with the tone; 符 is pronounced with a rising tone (second tone), which can be confused with other characters. It is frequently used in phrases like '符号' (symbol) and '符咒' (charm), and is more common in written Chinese than in everyday speech. Avoid using it in overly casual contexts where simpler words might suffice.
HSK Study Tips
While 符 is not part of the HSK lists, its components can help learners connect with other characters involving signs or symbols. Focus on how it interacts with words like '符号' (symbol) and '对应' (correspond), which are relevant at the intermediate level.
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, 符 often refers to talismans or charms used for protection or good fortune, especially in religious practices. They are believed to carry spiritual significance and can often be found in temples and shrines.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 符 (fú) with similar-sounding characters, leading to mispronunciation or incorrect usage. For example, mixing it up with '福' (fú, meaning fortune) can cause misunderstandings in context.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 符
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Grammar Patterns of 符
符 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 11 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.
It doesn't sound exactly orthodox, if I may say so.
7
与描述的疑犯样子相符的两名男子试图进入瑞士。
yǔ miáo shù de yí fàn yàng zǐ xiāng fú de liǎng míng nán zǐ shì tú jìn rù ruì shì。
Two men answer-ing the description of the suspects tried to enter Switzerland.
8
初始化自动题注字符串表格时发生了错误.
chū shǐ huà zì dòng tí zhù zì fú chuàn biǎo gé shí fā shēng le cuò wù.
An error occurred while initializing the auto caption string table.
9
算符O是零算符.
suàn fúO O shì líng suàn.
The operator O is the null operator.
10
锤子头是纯银制成的，雕刻着神圣符文，而握柄则被精心地包裹在蓝色的皮革中。
chuí zǐ tóu shì chún yín zhì chéng de， ， diāo kè zháo shén shèng fú， wén ， ér wò bǐng zé bèi jīng xīn dì bāo guǒ zài lán sè de pí。
The hammer's silvery head was etched with holy runs and its haft was meticulously wrapped in blue leather.
Cultural Notes for 符
🏮Cultural insight
In traditional Chinese culture, 符 often refers to talismans or charms used for protection or good fortune, especially in religious practices. They are believed to carry spiritual significance and can often be found in temples and shrines.
Word Family of 符
Words Containing This Character19
符合fúhéin keeping with
符号fúhàosymbol符號
相符to match
不符inconsistent
符fúmark
音符(music) note
护身符amulet護身符
符咒charm
字符character (computing)
标点符号punctuation標點符號
休止符rest (music)
字符串string (computer science)
符号学semiotics符號學
灵符a Daoist talisman靈符
符拉迪沃斯托克Vladivostok (Russian port city)
鬼画符scribblings鬼畫符
虎符tiger tally (a two-piece object made in the shape of a tiger, used in ancient China as proof of authority. One half of a tally could be issued to a military officer and this would be matched with the other half when verification was required.)
名不符实the name does not correspond to reality (idiom); it doesn't live up to its reputation名不符實
盘符drive letter (letter assigned to a disk drive or partition) (computing)盤符
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 符合 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 符
Common phrases include '符号' (fúhào), meaning 'symbol', and '符文' (fúwén), which refers to 'runes' or 'characters'. Another example is '符合法' (fúhéhé), which means 'to conform to the law'.
Yes, 符 (Fú) is a recognized surname in China, though not among the most common ones. It has historical significance and can be found among various Chinese communities.
符 (fú) has several meanings in Chinese, including 'sign', 'talisman', and 'to seal'. It can also refer to a surname or indicate correspondence. Understanding its context is crucial for proper usage.
符 (fú) can be used in various contexts, such as '符号' (fúhào) meaning 'symbol' or 'sign'. It's often used in phrases that relate to sealing or correspondence, like '符合' (fúhé), which means 'to correspond to' or 'to match'.
It is pronounced as 'fú' with a rising tone, similar to how you might say 'foo' but with a higher pitch at the end.
It's more commonly found in written Chinese or formal contexts, particularly related to symbols and signs, rather than in casual conversation.
