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March 24, 2026
伐fá(fa2)
The character 伐 (fá) primarily means 'to cut down' or 'to fell,' often in the context of trees or plants. It can also imply 'to attack' or 'to dispatch an expedition against,' suggesting a more aggressive action. In certain contexts, it can carry a connotation of boasting or showing off.
Strokes6Radical亻Frequency#26660DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In ancient China, the term 伐 was often used in the context of military campaigns, particularly during the Warring States period where states would 'fell' their enemies. This reflects the importance of conquest and power dynamics in Chinese history.
Memory Tip
Imagine a lumberjack (伐) with an axe, ready to cut down trees (to fell them). The character has the person radical (亻) on the left, indicating an action done by a person, and the phonetic part (伐) which sounds like 'fa' — think of 'felling' trees with a mighty swing.
Meanings of 伐
fá(fa2)
1to cut down
2to fell
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 伐
伐Simplified
6Strokes
亻Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#26660Frequency Rank
Podcast: 伐
Podcast: 伐
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AI Study Notes for 伐
Quick Contrast
伐 (fá) vs 砍 (kǎn) — use 伐 for a more aggressive or military connotation, while 砍 is more neutral and specifically refers to cutting.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a lumberjack (伐) with an axe, ready to cut down trees (to fell them). The character has the person radical (亻) on the left, indicating an action done by a person, and the phonetic part (伐) which sounds like 'fa' — think of 'felling' trees with a mighty swing.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 伐 with similar characters like 罚 (fá, to punish), leading to misunderstandings in context. This verb is more commonly used in formal contexts, such as literature or historical texts related to military actions. Be careful with the tone; mispronouncing it as fā (发) changes the meaning completely.
HSK Study Tips
While 伐 is not explicitly included in the HSK levels, it connects to themes of action and conflict present in HSK vocabulary. Students should focus on its uses in literary and historical contexts, which can enrich their understanding of classical texts.
Cultural Note
In ancient China, the term 伐 was often used in the context of military campaigns, particularly during the Warring States period where states would 'fell' their enemies. This reflects the importance of conquest and power dynamics in Chinese history.
Common Mistakes
Learners may mistakenly use 伐 in contexts where other verbs like 砍 are more appropriate, such as saying '我伐树' (wǒ fá shù) instead of '我砍树' (wǒ kǎn shù) for 'I cut down trees.' Additionally, confusing it with 罚 (fá) can lead to errors in meaning.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 伐
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Grammar Patterns of 伐
伐 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 8 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
门德斯先生正领导一场运动，以拯救遭到乱砍滥____的巴西热带雨林。
Mr Mendes was leading a campaign to save Brazil's rainforest from exploitation.
Example Sentences for 伐 (10)
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1
门德斯先生正领导一场运动，以拯救遭到乱砍滥伐的巴西热带雨林。
mén dé sī xiān shēng zhèng lǐng dǎo yī cháng yùn dòng， ， yǐ zhěng jiù zāo dào luàn kǎn làn fá de bā xī rè dài yǔ。
Mr Mendes was leading a campaign to save Brazil's rainforest from exploitation.
2
她连蹦带跳地走着，好跟上他的步伐。
tā lián bèng dài tiào dì zǒu zháo， ， hǎo gēn shàng tā de bù。
She was skipping to keep up with him.
3
很多人对变革的步伐不满意。
hěn duō rén duì biàn gé de bù fá bù mǎn yì。
Many people were not satisfied with the pace of change.
4
他匆匆地迈着沉重的步伐绕过湖边向花园走去。
tā cōng cōng dì mài zháo chén zhòng de bù fá rào guò hú biān xiàng huā yuán zǒu qù。
He tramped hurriedly round the lake towards the garden.
5
她意识到自己趾高气扬的步伐已变成了拖着脚走路了。
tā yì shí dào zì jǐ zhǐ gāo qì yáng de bù fá yǐ biàn chéng le tuō zháo jiǎo zǒu lù le。
She noticed her own proud walk had become a shuffle.
6
然后那个伐木工脱手甩出了斧头。哐！每个人都听见了。
rán hòu nà gè fá mù gōng tuō shǒu shuǎi chū le fǔ tóu。 。！ kuāng ！ měi gè rén dū tīng。
Then the woodcutter let his axe fly— Thwack! Everyone heard it.
7
从撒克逊时代起就开始采伐塞文山谷的这些树林获取木料。
cóng sā kè xùn shí dài qǐ jiù kāi shǐ cǎi fá sāi wén shān gǔ de zhè xiē shù lín huò qǔ mù liào。
These Severn Valley woods have been exploited for timber since Saxon times.
8
她走得很慢，以便与他保持一致的步伐。
tā zǒu dé hěn màn， ， yǐ biàn yǔ tā bǎo chí yī zhì de bù。
She walked slowly to accommodate herself to his pace.
9
伐木公司可能要在年底前把森林的一处中心地带留出来。
fá mù gōng sī kě néng yào zài nián dǐ qián bǎ sēn lín de yī chǔ zhōng xīn dì dài liú chū lái。
Logging companies would have to leave a central area of the forest before the end of the year.
In ancient China, the term 伐 was often used in the context of military campaigns, particularly during the Warring States period where states would 'fell' their enemies. This reflects the importance of conquest and power dynamics in Chinese history.
Word Family of 伐
Compounds8
阀fa2clique, valve; a powerful and influential group
筏fa2raft
垡fa2to plow; place name
茷
栰
浌
薎
閥fa2clique, valve; a powerful and influential group
Words Containing This Character20
步伐bùfápace
伐fáto fell
伐木to cut wood
讨伐to suppress by armed force討伐
巴伐利亚Bavaria巴伐利亞
斯洛伐克Slovakia (officially, since 1993, the Slovak Republic)
捷克斯洛伐克Republic of Czechoslovakia (1918-1992)
砍伐kǎnfáto hew
采伐to fell採伐
北伐the Northern Expedition, the Nationalists' campaign of 1926-1928 under Chiang Kai-shek, against the rule of local warlords
口诛笔伐to denounce by word and pen口誅筆伐
征伐to go on or send a punitive expedition
盗伐to unlawfully fell trees盜伐
滥伐to denude濫伐
北伐军the Northern Expeditionary Army北伐軍
攻伐to attack
伐木场a logging area伐木場
党同伐异to be narrowly partisan黨同伐異
武王伐纣King Wu of Zhou 周武王[ZhōuWǔwáng] overthrows tyrant Zhou of Shang 商紂王|商纣王[ShāngZhòuwáng]武王伐紂
吊民伐罪to console the people and punish the tyrant弔民伐罪
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 阀 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 伐
An example is '伐木' (fá mù), which means 'to fell trees.'
Synonyms include 砍 (kǎn, to chop) and 攻击 (gōngjī, to attack) depending on the context.
It is more commonly found in written or literary contexts than in everyday conversation.
