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March 24, 2026
抚(撫)fǔ(fu3)
The character 抚 (fǔ) primarily means to comfort or console someone, often through physical gestures like stroking or caressing. It can also refer to an older term for a province or provincial governor, indicating historical significance in governance. In modern usage, it is often associated with providing emotional support.
Strokes7Radical扌Frequency#17383DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the act of comforting someone physically, such as through a gentle stroke, is seen as a vital way to express empathy and support. This reflects the value placed on emotional connections and care within relationships.
Memory Tip
Imagine a gentle hand 'stroking' a heart to provide comfort; the left part of the character, 手 (shǒu), means hand, and the right part, 扶 (fú), can remind you of 'support' or 'to assist'. Visualize someone using their hand to 'pat' someone on the back, symbolizing care and comfort.
Meanings of 抚
fǔ(fu3)
1to comfort
2to console
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 抚
抚Simplified
撫Traditional
7Strokes
扌Radical
地名míngcíplace name (p.n.)Part of Speech
#17383Frequency Rank
Podcast: 抚
Podcast: 抚
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AI Study Notes for 抚
Quick Contrast
安慰 (ānwèi) vs 抚 (fǔ): Use 安慰 for verbal comfort or consolation, while 抚 emphasizes physical gestures of comfort.
Usage Notes
Be aware of the context when using 抚, as it can sound overly formal or poetic in casual conversation. Common collocations include 抚慰 (comfort) and 抚养 (raise, as in to nurture a child). Pay attention to the tone; mispronouncing it can lead to misunderstandings.
HSK Study Tips
Although 抚 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it connects to other words related to emotions and relationships, like 爱 (love) and 关心 (care). Students should focus on the emotional connotations and practice using it in comforting contexts.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 抚 with 安慰, mistakenly using one when the other is more appropriate; for example, saying '我抚她' (I comfort her) when the emotional context is better suited for 安慰. Additionally, using it without the proper context can sound overly formal, such as '抚我的朋友' (pat my friend) instead of simply saying '安慰我的朋友'.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 抚
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Phonosemantic compound. 扌 represents the meaning and 无 represents the sound. Simplified form of 撫.
1The meaning half扌 carries the sense.
2The sound half无 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawayhand
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 抚? 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 抚?
Decomposition of 抚
IDS Structure⿰扌无
抚Full Character
=
扌shou3
left
无wu2
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 抚?
How to say to comfort in Chinese
“to comfort” in Chinese is抚fǔ
The character 抚 (fǔ) primarily means to comfort or console someone, often through physical gestures like stroking or caressing. It can also refer to an older term for a province or provincial governor, indicating historical significance in governance. In modern usage, it is often associated with providing emotional support.
When to use 抚
Be aware of the context when using 抚, as it can sound overly formal or poetic in casual conversation. Common collocations include 抚慰 (comfort) and 抚养 (raise, as in to nurture a child). Pay attention to the tone; mispronouncing it can lead to misunderstandings.
抚 or something close to it
安慰 (ānwèi) vs 抚 (fǔ): Use 安慰 for verbal comfort or consolation, while 抚 emphasizes physical gestures of comfort.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 抚 with 安慰, mistakenly using one when the other is more appropriate; for example, saying '我抚她' (I comfort her) when the emotional context is better suited for 安慰. Additionally, using it without the proper context can sound overly formal, such as '抚我的朋友' (pat my friend) instead of simply saying '安慰我的朋友'.
Write 抚
抚
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Practice writing 抚 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 抚
抚 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 6 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
这些孩子在____育院等待安置。
The children were waiting for placement in a foster care home.
Common Confusions with 抚
抚vs扶
fú
Similar shape and pronunciation, but different meanings.
Exercise 1 of 1
Spot the Difference
Which character means "to comfort"?
or
Example Sentences for 抚 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
这些孩子在抚育院等待安置。
zhè xiē hái zǐ zài fǔ yù yuàn děng dài ān zhì。
The children were waiting for placement in a foster care home.
2
仍然有许多女性为了抚养孩子而离职。
réng rán yǒu xǔ duō nǚ xìng wéi le fǔ yǎng hái zǐ ér lí zhí。
Many women still take career breaks to bring up children.
3
作为单身母亲，我独自抚养我的3个孩子。
zuò wéi dān shēn mǔ qīn， ， wǒ dú zì fǔ yǎng wǒ3 de 3 gè。
I was bringing up my three children as a single parent.
4
我独自一人抚养了7个孩子。
wǒ dú zì yī rén fǔ yǎng le7 7 gè hái。
I brought up my seven children single-handed.
5
警察伸手抚摸那只猎狼犬。
jǐng chá shēn shǒu fǔ mō nà zhī liè láng quǎn。
The policeman reached down and petted the wolfhound.
6
他会把她揽在怀中抚慰她。
tā huì bǎ tā lǎn zài huái zhōng fǔ wèi tā。
He would take her in his arms and soothe her.
7
他的职责是安抚那些人，而不是去激怒他们。
tā de zhí zé shì ān fǔ nà xiē rén， ， ér bù shì qù jī nù tā。
His duty was to conciliate the people, not to provoke them.
8
她走上前拥抱他并轻抚他凌乱的白发。
tā zǒu shàng qián yōng bào tā bìng qīng fǔ tā líng luàn de bái fā。
She walked forward and embraced him and stroked his tousled white hair.
