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莩 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
莩fúculm, stem; the membrane lining a stemzg, 10 strokes, radical 艹
莩fúmembrane lining inside a cylindrical stemunknown, 10 strokes, radical 艹
莩fúused for 殍 piǎo, to die of starvationunknown, 10 strokes, radical 艹
莩piǎoculm, stem; the membrane lining a stemzg, 10 strokes, radical 艹
莩piǎomembrane lining inside a cylindrical stemunknown, 10 strokes, radical 艹
莩piǎoused for 殍 piǎo, to die of starvationunknown, 10 strokes, radical 艹
fú(fu2)
primary
 T2
  1. 1culm, stem; the membrane lining a stem
  2. 2membrane lining inside a cylindrical stem
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

莩fú(fu2)

The character 莩 (fú) refers to the culm or stem of a plant, particularly the inner membrane that lines a cylindrical stem. It is used in specific contexts related to botany and can also be associated with the term 殍 (piǎo), which means to die of starvation, indicating a connection to plant life and sustenance.

Strokes10Radical艹
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese medicine and agriculture, understanding plant anatomy, including parts like the culm, is vital for cultivating crops and utilizing herbs effectively, reflecting the deep connection between culture and botany in Chinese society.

Memory Tip

Visualize a thin green stem (culm) that is lined with a delicate membrane. Imagine this stem is so weak that it wilts and cannot provide sustenance, leading to the concept of dying from starvation, which connects to the pronunciation 'fú'.

Meanings of 莩

fú(fu2)
primary
1culm, stem; the membrane lining a stem
2membrane lining inside a cylindrical stem
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 莩

莩Simplified
10Strokes
艹Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 莩

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Podcast: 莩

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AI Study Notes for 莩

Usage Notes

This character is not commonly used in everyday conversation, making it more suitable for academic or specialized botanical discussions. Be careful not to confuse it with similar-sounding characters; ensure the context indicates its specific meaning related to plant structures.

HSK Study Tips

While 莩 is not an HSK vocabulary word, understanding its components can help with learning related terms in botany. Focus on recognizing this character in texts where plant biology is discussed, as it can enhance comprehension of specialized language at higher levels.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 莩 with other characters that have similar pronunciations or meanings. For instance, mixing it up with 符 (fú), which means 'symbol' or 'mark', can lead to misunderstandings in botanical contexts.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 莩

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Etymology of 莩

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

grass

Semantic (meaning)艹
+
Phonetic (sound)孚
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 莩

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

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

Want the full history of 莩? 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 莩?

Decomposition of 莩

IDS Structure⿱艹孚
莩Full Character
=
艹cao3
top
孚fu2
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 莩?

How to say culm, stem; the membrane lining a stem in Chinese

“culm, stem; the membrane lining a stem” in Chinese is莩fú

The character 莩 (fú) refers to the culm or stem of a plant, particularly the inner membrane that lines a cylindrical stem. It is used in specific contexts related to botany and can also be associated with the term 殍 (piǎo), which means to die of starvation, indicating a connection to plant life and sustenance.

When to use 莩

This character is not commonly used in everyday conversation, making it more suitable for academic or specialized botanical discussions. Be careful not to confuse it with similar-sounding characters; ensure the context indicates its specific meaning related to plant structures.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 莩 with other characters that have similar pronunciations or meanings. For instance, mixing it up with 符 (fú), which means 'symbol' or 'mark', can lead to misunderstandings in botanical contexts.

Write 莩

莩

Practice writing 莩 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 莩

Words Containing This Character2
莩fúculm
饿莩遍野starving people everywhere (idiom); a state of famine餓莩遍野
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 莩 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 莩

It is primarily used in botanical texts or discussions about plant structures.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 莩?

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.