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菩 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
菩púherb, aromatic plantn, 11 strokes, radical 艹, rank #14511, Very Hard
菩púBodhisattvaunknown, 11 strokes, radical 艹, rank #14511, Very Hard
pú(pu2)pu T2
  1. 1herb, aromatic plant
  2. 2Bodhisattva
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March 24, 2026

菩pú(pu2)

The character 菩 (pú) primarily refers to an aromatic plant or herb, often associated with the spiritual context of Buddhism, where it signifies 'Bodhisattva'. In common usage, it can denote various plants used in traditional medicine or culinary practices, particularly in Chinese culture. Its connection to Bodhisattvas highlights themes of compassion and enlightenment in Buddhist teachings.

Strokes11Radical艹Frequency#14511DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, the concept of 菩 is deeply tied to Buddhism, particularly the idea of Bodhisattvas who delay their own enlightenment to aid others. This reflects a core value of compassion and altruism in Chinese society.

Memory tip

Imagine a 'puppy' (pú) sniffing around a garden filled with fragrant herbs. The character 菩 looks like a plant sprouting from the ground, symbolizing growth and spirituality, much like a Bodhisattva nurturing others.

Meanings of 菩

pú(pu2)
1herb, aromatic plant
2Bodhisattva
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 菩 means.

About 菩

菩Simplified
11Strokes
艹Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 菩

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Podcast: 菩

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AI study notes for 菩

Usage Notes

Be mindful of the context in which 菩 is used; it is often seen in religious or philosophical discussions. Common collocations include 菩萨 (púsà, 'Bodhisattva') and 菩提 (pútí, 'enlightenment'). It's typically used in a more formal or literary register.

HSK Study Tips

While 菩 is not present in HSK levels, it connects to vocabulary related to Buddhism and spirituality, which may appear in higher-level studies. Students should focus on the context of usage within religious texts and discussions to fully grasp its significance.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 菩 with other similar characters, such as 朴 (pǔ), which means 'simple' or 'plain'. Remember that 菩 is specific to the context of herbs and Buddhism, while 朴 has different meanings.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 菩

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Etymology of 菩

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

Phonosemantic compound. 艹 represents the meaning and 咅 represents the sound.

Memory hint

herb

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

Origin

菩 = 艹 + 咅. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 菩

IDS Structure⿱艹咅
菩Full character
=
艹cao3
top
咅pou3
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 菩?

How to say herb, aromatic plant in Chinese

“herb, aromatic plant” in Chinese is菩pú

The character 菩 (pú) primarily refers to an aromatic plant or herb, often associated with the spiritual context of Buddhism, where it signifies 'Bodhisattva'. In common usage, it can denote various plants used in traditional medicine or culinary practices, particularly in Chinese culture. Its connection to Bodhisattvas highlights themes of compassion and enlightenment in Buddhist teachings.

When to use 菩

Be mindful of the context in which 菩 is used; it is often seen in religious or philosophical discussions. Common collocations include 菩萨 (púsà, 'Bodhisattva') and 菩提 (pútí, 'enlightenment'). It's typically used in a more formal or literary register.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 菩 with other similar characters, such as 朴 (pǔ), which means 'simple' or 'plain'. Remember that 菩 is specific to the context of herbs and Buddhism, while 朴 has different meanings.

Write 菩

菩

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

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Grammar patterns of 菩

菩 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 2 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 1

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

悟空没办法,只好去求观音____萨.

Monkey King had to seek help from Guanyin ( a Bodhisattva ).

Example sentences for 菩 (1)

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1
悟空没办法,只好去求观音菩萨.

wù kōng méi bànfǎ, zhǐhǎo qù qiú guān yīn púsà.

Monkey King had to seek help from Guanyin ( a Bodhisattva ).

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Word Family of 菩

Words containing this character8
菩萨púsàBodhisattva (Buddhism)菩薩
菩púBodhisattva
菩提bodhi (Sanskrit)
菩提树bo fig tree菩提樹
观世音菩萨Guanyin, the Bodhisattva of Compassion or Goddess of Mercy (Sanskrit Avalokiteśvara)觀世音菩薩
观音菩萨Guanyin, the Bodhisattva of Compassion or Goddess of Mercy (Sanskrit Avalokiteśvara)觀音菩薩
活菩萨a living Buddha活菩薩
泥菩萨clay Bodhisattva泥菩薩
Exercise 1 of 4

Words with 菩

What does 菩萨 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 菩

In Buddhism, 菩 refers to 'Bodhisattva', an enlightened being who helps others achieve enlightenment.

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