Skip to content
Begin learning Chinese at your own paceStart learning
莆 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
莆púa kind of legendary treens, 10 strokes, radical 艹, rank #45062, Very Hard
莆púplace nameunknown, 10 strokes, radical 艹, rank #45062, Very Hard
pú(pu2)pu T2
  1. 1a kind of legendary tree
  2. 2place name
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

莆pú(pu2)

The character 莆 (pú) primarily refers to a legendary tree often associated with folklore, symbolizing strength and endurance. It is also used as a place name in China, particularly in the context of 莆田 (Pútian), a city in Fujian Province known for its rich history and culture.

Strokes10Radical艹Frequency#45062DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

The city of 莆田 (Pútian) is known for its significant contributions to Chinese opera and the development of the Hokkien dialect, making it a culturally rich area within China.

Memory tip

Imagine a strong tree (represented by the radical '艹' for plants) standing tall in a place called Pú. Picture it as a legendary tree that has stood the test of time, with roots deep in Chinese folklore, giving it a mystical aura.

Meanings of 莆

pú(pu2)
1a kind of legendary tree
2place name
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 莆 means.

About 莆

莆Simplified
10Strokes
艹Radical
地名míngcíplace name (p.n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 莆

JasonAmy

Podcast: 莆

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 莆

Usage Notes

While 莆 is not commonly used in everyday conversation, it may appear in literary contexts or discussions about history. Be mindful of its specific usage as a place name, as confusing it with other place names can lead to misunderstandings.

HSK Study Tips

Although 莆 is not included in the official HSK vocabulary lists, it can be related to other characters and terms that involve place names or trees. Focus on understanding its context in literature and geography as you expand your vocabulary.

Common Mistakes

Learners may confuse 莆 with similar-sounding characters, such as 普 (pǔ), which means 'universal' or 'common'. Remember that 莆 is specifically associated with the legendary tree and the place name context.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 莆

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 莆 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsInstant feedback+5 XP
Get Pro to unlock

Jason Explains 莆 to You

Let me explain 莆 for you

Make it yours

Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 莆 through them.

Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 215 AI credits.

How Well Do You Know 莆?

Example

Learning Lab

Knowing 莆 is seven skills, not one.

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.

  • MeaningFree
  • CharacterFree
  • PinyinFree
  • TonePro
  • ListeningPro
  • SpeakingPro
  • WritingPro
See the Learning Lab Three facets free · no card needed

Etymology of 莆

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

plant

Semantic (meaning)艹
+
Phonetic (sound)甫
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

莆 = 艹 + 甫. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 莆

IDS Structure⿱艹甫
莆Full character
=
艹cao3
top
甫fu3
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 莆?

How to say a kind of legendary tree in Chinese

“a kind of legendary tree” in Chinese is莆pú

The character 莆 (pú) primarily refers to a legendary tree often associated with folklore, symbolizing strength and endurance. It is also used as a place name in China, particularly in the context of 莆田 (Pútian), a city in Fujian Province known for its rich history and culture.

When to use 莆

While 莆 is not commonly used in everyday conversation, it may appear in literary contexts or discussions about history. Be mindful of its specific usage as a place name, as confusing it with other place names can lead to misunderstandings.

What learners get wrong

Learners may confuse 莆 with similar-sounding characters, such as 普 (pǔ), which means 'universal' or 'common'. Remember that 莆 is specifically associated with the legendary tree and the place name context.

Write 莆

莆

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Ask Jason

Have a question about 莆?

Jason answers about this word at your level: example sentences, how it differs from similar words, and a way to remember it.

Sign in free to ask. New accounts start with 215 AI credits.

Word Family of 莆

Words containing this character4
莆púplace name
莆田Putian prefecture level city in Fujian
莆田市Putian prefecture level city in Fujian
莆田地区Putian prefecture (old term)莆田地區
Exercise 1 of 3

Words with 莆

What does 莆田 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 莆

莆 represents a legendary tree that symbolizes strength and endurance.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 莆?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.

A sample week, replayed. Every page you study lands here in the order you did it — your own replay starts with a free account.

See the Learning Lab