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March 24, 2026
肤(膚)fū(fu1)
The character 肤 (fū) primarily refers to 'skin' in a biological sense, denoting the outer protective layer of the body. It can also imply something that is superficial or shallow, often used metaphorically to describe surface-level qualities or appearances.
Strokes8Radical⺼Frequency#12207DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese medicine, the health of one’s 肤 is often associated with overall well-being, linking skin conditions to internal health issues. This reflects the holistic view of health in Chinese culture.
Memory Tip
You can remember 肤 (fū) by thinking of the character as a 'skin' covering. The radical 肉, which means 'meat' or 'flesh,' is a key part of this character, highlighting its connection to skin. Imagine a soft fabric covering meat to reinforce the concept of skin as a protective layer.
Meanings of 肤
fū(fu1)
1skin
2skin; shallow, superficial
Exercise 1 of 3
By ear
Play it, then pick what 肤 means.
About 肤
肤Simplified
膚Traditional
8Strokes
⺼Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#12207Frequency Rank
Podcast: 肤
Podcast: 肤
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AI Study Notes for 肤
Quick Contrast
肤 (fū) vs 表皮 (biǎopí) — use 肤 for general reference to skin, while 表皮 specifically denotes the outer layer of skin in a biological context.
Usage Notes
When using 肤, be mindful of its context; it can be formal in medical discussions or informal in everyday conversations. Common collocations include 肤色 (skin color) and 肤质 (skin texture). Be careful with the pronunciation, as mispronouncing the tone can lead to misunderstandings.
HSK Study Tips
Although 肤 is not in the official HSK vocabulary lists, it connects well with other body-related terms, such as 身体 (body) and 皮肤 (skin). Focus on recognizing it in context and understanding its nuances in describing physical attributes.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 肤 (fū) with 皮肤 (pí fū) and use them interchangeably, when in fact, 肤 is more formal and less common. For example, saying '我的肤很干燥' (My skin is dry) sounds awkward; instead, use '我的皮肤很干燥'.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 肤
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How Well Do You Know 肤?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 肤 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.
肤 = ⺼ + 夫. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 肤
IDS Structure⿰⺼夫
肤Full Character
=
⺼rou4
left
夫fu1
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 肤?
How to say skin in Chinese
“skin” in Chinese is肤fū
The character 肤 (fū) primarily refers to 'skin' in a biological sense, denoting the outer protective layer of the body. It can also imply something that is superficial or shallow, often used metaphorically to describe surface-level qualities or appearances.
When to use 肤
When using 肤, be mindful of its context; it can be formal in medical discussions or informal in everyday conversations. Common collocations include 肤色 (skin color) and 肤质 (skin texture). Be careful with the pronunciation, as mispronouncing the tone can lead to misunderstandings.
肤 or something close to it
肤 (fū) vs 表皮 (biǎopí) — use 肤 for general reference to skin, while 表皮 specifically denotes the outer layer of skin in a biological context.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 肤 (fū) with 皮肤 (pí fū) and use them interchangeably, when in fact, 肤 is more formal and less common. For example, saying '我的肤很干燥' (My skin is dry) sounds awkward; instead, use '我的皮肤很干燥'.
Write 肤
肤
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Practice writing 肤 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 肤
肤 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.
Exercise 1 of 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
我们之间唯一的差别就是____色。
The only difference between us is the colour of our skins.
Common Confusions with 肤
肤vs夫
fū
Same pronunciation but different meanings.
肤vs符
fú
Similar pronunciation but different meanings.
Exercise 1 of 1
Which one
Which one means “skin”?
or
Example Sentences for 肤 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
我们之间唯一的差别就是肤色。
wǒ mén zhī jiān wéi yī de chà bié jiù shì fū sè。
The only difference between us is the colour of our skins.
2
选择与你本身的肤色相衬的颜色。
xuǎn zé yǔ nǐ běn shēn de fū sè xiāng chèn de yán sè。
Choose shades which tone in with your natural colouring.
3
你可能得了职业性皮肤病。
nǐ kě néng dé le zhí yè xìng pí fū bìng。
You might be having an occupationally related skin problem.
4
湿疹是一种常见的皮肤病，通常具遗传性。
shī zhěn shì yī zhǒng cháng jiàn de pí fū bìng， ， tōng cháng jù yí chuán。
Eczema is a common skin complaint which often runs in families.
rú guǒ jí zǎo zhì liáo， ， duō shù de pí fū ái shì kě zhì hǎo。
Most skin cancers are curable if treated early.
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Word Family of 肤
Words Containing This Character12
皮肤pífūskin皮膚
肌肤jīfūskin肌膚
肤fūskin膚
肤色skin color膚色
肤浅skin-deep膚淺
皮肤病dermatosis皮膚病
体无完肤lit. cuts and bruises all over (idiom); fig. totally refuted體無完膚
皮肤癌skin cancer皮膚癌
皮肤科dermatology皮膚科
体肤skin體膚
切肤之痛keenly felt pain切膚之痛
舒肤佳Safeguard (brand)舒膚佳
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 肤
What does 皮肤 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 肤
Some common phrases include '肤浅' (fūqiǎn), meaning 'superficial' or 'shallow', and '肤质' (fūzhì), referring to 'skin type'. These phrases highlight different uses of the character in context.
Yes, 肤 is commonly used in everyday conversation, especially when discussing topics related to health, beauty, or skincare. It is a straightforward term that most learners will encounter frequently.
To use 肤 (fū) in a sentence, you might say '她的肤色很漂亮' (tā de fū sè hěn piàoliang), which means 'Her skin color is beautiful.' This shows how 肤 can describe a person's skin in a positive way.
肤 (fū) means 'skin' in Chinese and can refer to the outer layer of the body. It can also imply something that is superficial or shallow in nature when used in different contexts.
Common phrases include 肤色 (skin color) and 肤质 (skin texture), often used in discussions about beauty or health.
While both refer to skin, 皮肤 (pí fū) is more commonly used in everyday language, while 肤 (fū) can imply a deeper, more abstract meaning of superficiality.
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