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呒 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
呒fǔunclear; an expletivezg, 7 strokes, radical 口, rank #30555, Very Hard
呒fǔperplexedunknown, 7 strokes, radical 口, rank #30555, Very Hard
呒fǔdialectal equivalent of 沒有|没有[mei2 you3]unknown, 7 strokes, radical 口, rank #30555, Very Hard
呒fǔastonishedunknown, 7 strokes, radical 口, rank #30555, Very Hard
呒munclear; an expletivezg, 7 strokes, radical 口, rank #30555, Very Hard
呒mperplexedunknown, 7 strokes, radical 口, rank #30555, Very Hard
呒mdialectal equivalent of 沒有|没有[mei2 you3]unknown, 7 strokes, radical 口, rank #30555, Very Hard
呒mastonishedunknown, 7 strokes, radical 口, rank #30555, Very Hard
fǔ(fu3)
primary
T3
  1. 1unclear; an expletive
  2. 2perplexed
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

呒(嘸)fǔ(fu3)

The character 呒 (fǔ) is used primarily in dialectal contexts to express confusion or a lack of clarity, similar to saying 'huh?' in English. It can also serve as an expletive in informal conversations, conveying astonishment or disbelief. As a less common character, it may not be widely recognized outside certain regions in China.

Strokes7Radical口Frequency#30555DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In some regions of China, using 呒 reflects a local dialect and can indicate a person's background or identity. It highlights the rich diversity of Chinese dialects and the way language evolves in different communities.

Memory Tip

Imagine someone scratching their head in confusion when they hear a complicated story. The character 呒 looks like a person (口) trying to express an unclear thought (the radical '口' represents speaking), and the pronunciation 'fǔ' sounds like a puzzled 'huh?'

Meanings of 呒

fǔ(fu3)
primary
1unclear; an expletive
2perplexed
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 呒

呒Simplified
嘸Traditional
7Strokes
口Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 呒

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Podcast: 呒

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 呒

Usage Notes

This character is informal and typically used in spoken language rather than written. Learners should be cautious about using it in formal settings or written communication. It often appears in casual conversations among friends or in regional dialects.

HSK Study Tips

Although 呒 is not part of the HSK curriculum, it can be useful for learners focusing on spoken Mandarin and dialects. Students at lower HSK levels should familiarize themselves with common expressions of confusion or surprise, as these are practical in everyday conversations.

Common Mistakes

Learners may confuse 呒 with similar-sounding characters or assume it has a formal usage. For example, using it in a business meeting would be inappropriate; instead, one might say '这是什么意思?' (What does this mean?) for clarity.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 呒

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Etymology of 呒

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory Hint

mouth

Semantic (meaning)口
+
Phonetic (sound)无
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 呒

  1. 1The meaning half口 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half无 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawaymouth
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 呒? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 呒?

Decomposition of 呒

IDS Structure⿰口无
呒Full Character
=
口kou3
left
无wu2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 呒?

How to say unclear; an expletive in Chinese

“unclear; an expletive” in Chinese is呒fǔ

The character 呒 (fǔ) is used primarily in dialectal contexts to express confusion or a lack of clarity, similar to saying 'huh?' in English. It can also serve as an expletive in informal conversations, conveying astonishment or disbelief. As a less common character, it may not be widely recognized outside certain regions in China.

When to use 呒

This character is informal and typically used in spoken language rather than written. Learners should be cautious about using it in formal settings or written communication. It often appears in casual conversations among friends or in regional dialects.

What learners get wrong

Learners may confuse 呒 with similar-sounding characters or assume it has a formal usage. For example, using it in a business meeting would be inappropriate; instead, one might say '这是什么意思?' (What does this mean?) for clarity.

Write 呒

呒

Practice writing 呒 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 呒

Words Containing This Character1
呒fǔperplexed嘸
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 呒 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 呒

No, 呒 is primarily used in spoken Chinese and informal contexts.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 呒?

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