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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) 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

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 莆

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

Podcast: 莆

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Podcast: 莆

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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

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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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 莆

  1. 1The meaning half艹 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half甫 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawayplant
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

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

Want the full history of 莆? 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 莆?

Decomposition of 莆

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

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component 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

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 4

Compound Meaning

What does 莆 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 莆

莆 represents a legendary tree that symbolizes strength and endurance.

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