HSK 4, n, 10 strokes, radical 阝, rank #607, Medium
bù(bu4) T4
1ministry
2department
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March 24, 2026
部bù(bu4)
The character 部 (bù) refers to a division or department within an organization, such as a ministry or section. It is commonly used in both formal contexts, like government ministries, and informal contexts, such as departments in a company. Additionally, it can serve as a classifier for certain works, indicating a specific section or part.
Strokes10Radical阝Frequency#607DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese government and corporate structures, the term 部 is often used to signify important divisions, reflecting the hierarchical nature of these organizations. For instance, the Ministry of Education is referred to as '教育部' (Jiàoyùbù), showcasing the emphasis on official departments in society.
Memory Tip
Imagine a large building divided into several sections, each labeled with a sign that says '部.' The radical 部 resembles a roof over a division, symbolizing different parts of a whole. The pronunciation 'bù' sounds like 'boot,' helping you remember that each 'boot' belongs to a specific department.
Meanings of 部
bù(bu4)
1ministry
2department
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 部
部Simplified
10Strokes
阝Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#607Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L4ElementaryTOCFLL3HSKKL2BCT✓CEFRA2
Podcast: 部
Podcast: 部
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AI Study Notes for 部
Quick Contrast
科 (kē) vs 部 (bù): Use 科 for scientific or academic divisions, while 部 is broader and can refer to any department or division.
Usage Notes
Be mindful of using 部 in the correct context; it is mostly formal when referring to government or organizational divisions. Common collocations include '部门' (bùmén, department) and '部队' (bùduì, troops). Watch out for tone confusion; the correct pronunciation is with a falling tone (bù), which is crucial for clarity.
HSK Study Tips
部 is not currently in the official HSK vocabulary list, but it is important for understanding organizational structures in Chinese. Students should focus on its use in context, particularly with related words like '部门' and '部落' (bùluò, tribe). This word can help learners grasp more complex structures in later levels.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 部 with 份 (fèn), which means 'part' but is used in different contexts, such as food or shares. For example, saying '一部的书' (yī bù de shū) instead of '一本书' (yī běn shū) for 'a book' is incorrect; the correct classifier for books is '本.'
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 部
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Phonosemantic compound. ⻏ represents the meaning and 咅 represents the sound.
1The meaning half阝 carries the sense.
2The sound half咅 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawayplace
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 部? 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 部?
Decomposition of 部
IDS Structure⿰咅阝
部Full Character
=
咅pou3
left
阝yi4
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 部?
How to say ministry in Chinese
“ministry” in Chinese is部bù
The character 部 (bù) refers to a division or department within an organization, such as a ministry or section. It is commonly used in both formal contexts, like government ministries, and informal contexts, such as departments in a company. Additionally, it can serve as a classifier for certain works, indicating a specific section or part.
When to use 部
Be mindful of using 部 in the correct context; it is mostly formal when referring to government or organizational divisions. Common collocations include '部门' (bùmén, department) and '部队' (bùduì, troops). Watch out for tone confusion; the correct pronunciation is with a falling tone (bù), which is crucial for clarity.
部 or something close to it
科 (kē) vs 部 (bù): Use 科 for scientific or academic divisions, while 部 is broader and can refer to any department or division.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 部 with 份 (fèn), which means 'part' but is used in different contexts, such as food or shares. For example, saying '一部的书' (yī bù de shū) instead of '一本书' (yī běn shū) for 'a book' is incorrect; the correct classifier for books is '本.'
Write 部
部
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Practice writing 部 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 部
部 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 9 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.
