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安抚 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
安抚ānfǔto placateHSK 7, unknown, 13 strokes, rank #10078, Very Hard
安抚ānfǔto pacifyHSK 7, unknown, 13 strokes, rank #10078, Very Hard
安抚ānfǔto appeaseHSK 7, unknown, 13 strokes, rank #10078, Very Hard
ānfǔ(an1fu3)an fu T1
  1. 1to placate
  2. 2to pacify
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March 24, 2026

安抚(安撫)ānfǔ(an1fu3)

安抚 (ān fǔ) means to soothe or calm someone, often in a context where they are upset or anxious. This term is commonly used in interpersonal communication, particularly when addressing emotions, and can apply to both people and situations that require calming down.

Strokes13Frequency#10078DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, maintaining harmony and peace is vital, making words like 安抚 significant in social interactions. It reflects the cultural emphasis on emotional stability and the importance of addressing feelings delicately.

Memory tip

Imagine a calm 'an' (安) ocean, where the waves are gently 'fu' (抚)ed by a soft breeze. Visualize yourself on a peaceful shore, soothing your worries away, which connects the sound 'an' with the action of calming, capturing both the meaning and pronunciation.

Meanings of 安抚

ānfǔ(an1fu3)
1to placate
2to pacify
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About 安抚

安抚Simplified
安撫Traditional
13Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2

Podcast: 安抚

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Podcast: 安抚

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AI study notes for 安抚

Quick Contrast

安慰 (ān wèi) is used for comforting someone emotionally, while 安抚 (ān fǔ) emphasizes calming someone down, often in a more immediate or practical context.

Usage Notes

Be cautious not to confuse 安抚 with other similar terms like 安慰 (ān wèi, to comfort), which has a more emotional support connotation. This term is generally informal, and it's often used in personal or casual contexts rather than formal settings.

HSK Study Tips

While 安抚 is not an HSK vocabulary word, it is beneficial for learners at HSK 4 and above to recognize its usage in emotional contexts. Focus on understanding its application in everyday conversation, especially in relation to feelings and emotional management.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mix up 安抚 with 安慰, mistakenly using 安抚 when the context calls for emotional support. For example, saying '我想安抚她' (I want to comfort her) is incorrect if the intention is to provide emotional support; '我想安慰她' would be more appropriate.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 安抚

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Component characters

安Āncontent
HSK 56 strokes宀
View full entry
抚fǔto comfort
7 strokes扌
View full entry

How to say to placate in Chinese

“to placate” in Chinese is安抚ānfǔ

安抚 (ān fǔ) means to soothe or calm someone, often in a context where they are upset or anxious. This term is commonly used in interpersonal communication, particularly when addressing emotions, and can apply to both people and situations that require calming down.

When to use 安抚

Be cautious not to confuse 安抚 with other similar terms like 安慰 (ān wèi, to comfort), which has a more emotional support connotation. This term is generally informal, and it's often used in personal or casual contexts rather than formal settings.

安抚 or something close to it

安慰 (ān wèi) is used for comforting someone emotionally, while 安抚 (ān fǔ) emphasizes calming someone down, often in a more immediate or practical context.

What learners get wrong

Learners often mix up 安抚 with 安慰, mistakenly using 安抚 when the context calls for emotional support. For example, saying '我想安抚她' (I want to comfort her) is incorrect if the intention is to provide emotional support; '我想安慰她' would be more appropriate.

Write 安抚

安
抚

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Frequently asked questions about 安抚

It's best to use 安抚 in informal settings; for formal situations, consider using terms like 调解 (tiáo jiě, to mediate) instead.

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