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付 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
付fùsurname FuHSK 4, v, 5 strokes, radical 亻, rank #740, Medium
付fùto payHSK 4, v, 5 strokes, radical 亻, rank #740, Medium
付fùto hand over toHSK 4, v, 5 strokes, radical 亻, rank #740, Medium
付fùgive, deliver, pay, hand over; entrustHSK 4, v, 5 strokes, radical 亻, rank #740, Medium
付fùclassifier for pairs or sets of thingsHSK 4, unknown, 5 strokes, radical 亻, rank #740, Medium
fù(Fu4) T4
  1. 1to pay
  2. 2to hand over to
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

付fù(Fu4)

The character 付 (fù) primarily means 'to pay' or 'to hand over.' It is commonly used in financial contexts, such as making payments for goods or services. Additionally, it can denote the act of entrusting or delivering something to someone.

Strokes5Radical亻Frequency#740DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, paying for a meal signifies respect and social hierarchy; it's common for the host to pay. The character 付 thus resonates with the importance of financial interactions in social settings.

Memory Tip

Imagine a person handing over a payment while saying 'fu' as they pass the money. The character 付 has a simple form that resembles a person giving something away, reinforcing the idea of handing over.

Meanings of 付

fù(Fu4)
1to pay
2to hand over to
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 付

付Simplified
5Strokes
亻Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#740Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L4ElementaryTOCFLL3HSKKL2BCT✓CEFRA2

Podcast: 付

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Podcast: 付

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AI Study Notes for 付

Quick Contrast

支付 (zhīfù) vs 付款 (fùkuǎn) — use 付 when emphasizing the act of handing over or entrusting, while 支付 focuses more on the act of payment itself.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a person handing over a payment while saying 'fu' as they pass the money. The character 付 has a simple form that resembles a person giving something away, reinforcing the idea of handing over.

Usage Notes

Be cautious not to confuse 付 (fù) with 付出 (fùchū), which means 'to pay out' or 'to make an effort.' This term is more formal, while 付 can be used in everyday transactions. Ensure the correct tone is used, as mispronouncing it could lead to misunderstandings.

HSK Study Tips

While 付 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it's essential for learners to recognize this character as it appears frequently in daily conversations involving transactions. Focus on its usage in phrases related to payments and financial exchanges.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, paying for a meal signifies respect and social hierarchy; it's common for the host to pay. The character 付 thus resonates with the importance of financial interactions in social settings.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 付 (fù) with 付出 (fùchū); remember that 付 is more general and can be used casually, whereas 付出 is more formal. Another mistake is using the wrong tone: saying 'pu' instead of 'fù' can completely change the meaning.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 付

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Etymology of 付

Formation TypeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Explanation

Depicts a hand (寸) giving payment to a person (亻).

Memory Hint

To hand 寸 something over to someone 亻 

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 付?

Decomposition of 付

IDS Structure⿰亻寸
付Full Character
=
亻ren2
left
寸cun4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 付?

Write 付

付

Practice writing 付 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 付

付 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 5 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.

Related grammar lessons3
Exercise 1 of 5

Complete the Sentence

医生们抱怨他们疲于应____医药公司的销售人员。

Doctors are complaining about being barraged by drug-company salesmen.

Example Sentences for 付 (10)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
医生们抱怨他们疲于应付医药公司的销售人员。

yī shēng mén bào yuàn tā mén pí yú yīng fù yī yào gōng sī de xiāo shòu rén yuán。

Doctors are complaining about being barraged by drug-company salesmen.
2
请于今日将随函附上的捐款表格用所提供的邮资预付的信封寄回。

qǐng yú jīn rì jiāng suí hán fù shàng de juān kuǎn biǎo gé yòng suǒ tí gōng de yóu zī yù fù de xìn fēng jì huí。

Return the enclosed Donation Form today in the prepaid envelope provided.
3
该公司不得不为裁员支付4.72亿英镑的补偿款。

gāi gōng sī bù dé bù wéi cái yuán zhī fù4.72 4.72 yì yīng bàng de bǔ cháng。

The company has had to make redundancy payments of £472 million.
4
你可以付费升级到商务舱。

nǐ kě yǐ fù fèi shēng jí dào shāng wù cāng。

You can pay to be upgraded to a business class seat.
5
你是否付出艰苦努力以取得成功，而不是只在那里做白日梦？

nǐ shì fǒu fù chū jiān kǔ nǔ lì yǐ qǔ dé chéng gōng， ， ér bù shì zhī zài nà lǐ zuò bái rì？

Do you work hard for success rather than daydream about it?
6
再额外多付一些钱的话，你或许就能买到附加险。

zài é wài duō fù yī xiē qián de huà， ， nǐ huò xǔ jiù néng mǎi dào fù jiā。

You'll probably be able to buy supplemental insurance at an extra cost.
7
住宿免费——你只需付早餐和正餐的钱。

zhù sù miǎn fèi—— —— nǐ zhī xū fù zǎo cān hé zhèng cān de。

Accommodation is free — all you pay for is breakfast and dinner.
8
这项服务可能要你额外支付10％的费用.

zhè xiàng fú wù kě néng yào nǐ é wài zhī fù10％ 10％ de fèi.

You may be charged 10% extra for this service.
9
这更像是首付，也可以说是定金。

zhè gēng xiàng shì shǒu fù， ， yě kě yǐ shuō shì dìng。

This is more like a downpayment, or a deposit, if you like.
10
他们仅为此付给他10英镑，这真让他感到愤怒。

tā mén jǐn wéi cǐ fù gěi tā10 10 yīng， bàng ， zhè zhēn ràng tā gǎn dào。

They paid him only £10 for it and it really rankled.

Cultural Notes for 付

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, paying for a meal signifies respect and social hierarchy; it's common for the host to pay. The character 付 thus resonates with the importance of financial interactions in social settings.

Word Family of 付

Compounds25
府fu3seat of government
附fu4variant of 附[fù]
符Fu2surname Fu
咐fu4to order
跗fu1arch, instep
驸fu4extra horse; imperial son-in-law
弣
拊fu3to pat, to slap, to tap; the handle of a vessel
柎
泭
祔
苻fu2a kind of herb; Angelica anomala
蚹
鲋fu4carp; Carassicus auratus
坿
姇
怤
紨
胕
袝
詂
軵
鉜
駙fu4extra horse; imperial son-in-law
鮒
Words Containing This Character20
付fùto pay
付出fùchūto pay
支付zhīfùto pay (money)
对付duìfuto handle對付
应付yìngfuto cope應付
付款fùkuǎnpayment
交付jiāofùto hand over
付给to deliver付給
付清to pay in full
赔付to pay out賠付
付诸to apply to付諸
托付tuōfùto entrust
付费fùfèito pay付費
付账to settle an account付賬
预付prepaid預付
垫付to advance funds to sb for later repayment墊付
分期付款to pay in installments
拨付appropriate sum of money撥付
偿付to pay back償付
兑付to cash (a check)兌付
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 府 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 付

In a sentence, 付 can mean 'I will pay for this meal' (我付这个餐费 - Wǒ fù zhège cān fèi).