Meanings of 拊
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About 拊
Podcast: 拊
Podcast: 拊
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AI Study Notes for 拊
拍 (pāi) - use 拊 (fǔ) for a gentle touch, while 拍 (pāi) implies a stronger, more forceful action.
Be careful not to confuse 拊 (fǔ) with similar-sounding characters. It's used in informal contexts and is less common in formal writing. Common collocations include 拊肩 (to pat on the shoulder) and 拊背 (to pat on the back).
Although 拊 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it shares components with other characters that involve the hand (扌). Focus on characters that denote actions, particularly those that involve physical interaction.
Learners often confuse 拊 (fǔ) with 拍 (pāi), which means to clap or hit. For example, saying 拊手 (fǔ shǒu) instead of 拍手 (pāi shǒu) would be incorrect, as 拊 suggests a lighter touch rather than clapping.
Pronunciation of 拊
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Etymology of 拊
hand
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 拊
- 1The meaning half扌 carries the sense.
- 2The sound half付 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 拊? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 拊?
Decomposition of 拊
Identify the Components
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How to say to pat, to slap, to tap; the handle of a vessel in Chinese
“to pat, to slap, to tap; the handle of a vessel” in Chinese is拊
The character 拊 (fǔ) means to pat, slap, or tap something lightly. It can also refer to the handle of a vessel, indicating a physical action that is gentle rather than forceful. This term is often used in contexts where a light touch or encouragement is conveyed.
When to use 拊
Be careful not to confuse 拊 (fǔ) with similar-sounding characters. It's used in informal contexts and is less common in formal writing. Common collocations include 拊肩 (to pat on the shoulder) and 拊背 (to pat on the back).
拊 or something close to it
拍 (pāi) - use 拊 (fǔ) for a gentle touch, while 拍 (pāi) implies a stronger, more forceful action.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 拊 (fǔ) with 拍 (pāi), which means to clap or hit. For example, saying 拊手 (fǔ shǒu) instead of 拍手 (pāi shǒu) would be incorrect, as 拊 suggests a lighter touch rather than clapping.
Write 拊
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Practice writing 拊 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Word Family of 拊
Compound Meaning
What does 拊 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 拊
No, 拊 is not frequently used in everyday conversation and is more likely to appear in literary or formal contexts.
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