Meanings of 夫
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Podcast: 夫
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AI Study Notes for 夫
丈夫 (zhàngfu) - use 夫 (fū) for a more formal or literary context, while 丈夫 (zhàngfu) is more commonly used in everyday conversation.
While 夫 generally refers to a husband, it's important to clarify the context as it can also denote a worker or a man in general. Avoid using it in overly formal contexts, as it can seem outdated. Common collocations include 夫妇 (fūfù) meaning 'couple' or 'husband and wife'.
Although 夫 is not currently in the HSK vocabulary list, it connects to basic words about family and relationships, such as 妻 (qī, wife). Students should focus on its usage in both modern and classical contexts to understand its nuances.
Learners often confuse 夫 with other family terms like 父 (fù, father) or mistakenly use it in informal contexts where more casual terms are preferred. For example, saying '我丈夫在家' (Wǒ zhàngfū zài jiā) is correct, but using 夫 in casual conversation might sound stilted.
Pronunciation of 夫
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Jason Explains 夫 to You
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Learning Lab
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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.
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Etymology of 夫
Pictograph of a man. The top horizontal stroke is traditionally explained as a hairpin which was only worn by adults.
A man 大 wearing a coming-of-age hairpin 一
Origin
What kind of character is 夫?
Decomposition of 夫
Parts
Which of these is part of 夫?
How to say husband in Chinese
“husband” in Chinese is夫
The character 夫 (fū) primarily means 'husband' or 'man' in modern Mandarin. It can also refer to a manual worker or conscripted laborer in historical contexts. Additionally, in classical Chinese, it serves as a pronoun meaning 'he' or 'they' and can be used to introduce opinions.
When to use 夫
While 夫 generally refers to a husband, it's important to clarify the context as it can also denote a worker or a man in general. Avoid using it in overly formal contexts, as it can seem outdated. Common collocations include 夫妇 (fūfù) meaning 'couple' or 'husband and wife'.
夫 or something close to it
丈夫 (zhàngfu) - use 夫 (fū) for a more formal or literary context, while 丈夫 (zhàngfu) is more commonly used in everyday conversation.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 夫 with other family terms like 父 (fù, father) or mistakenly use it in informal contexts where more casual terms are preferred. For example, saying '我丈夫在家' (Wǒ zhàngfū zài jiā) is correct, but using 夫 in casual conversation might sound stilted.
Write 夫
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Practice writing 夫 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 夫
夫 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 9 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.
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
他那敢告到张大____头上来了？
How dare he bring a lawsuit against Dr. Zhang!
Example Sentences for 夫 (16)
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Word Family of 夫
Characters with 夫
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Frequently Asked Questions about 夫
夫 is a more formal term for 'husband', often used in writing or traditional contexts, while 老公 is an informal, affectionate term used in everyday conversation.
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