HSK 6, nr, 5 strokes, radical 巾, rank #1729, Medium
布
bù
to spread
HSK 6, nr, 5 strokes, radical 巾, rank #1729, Medium
布
bù
cotton, linen, textiles; to announce, to declare; to spread
HSK 6, nr, 5 strokes, radical 巾, rank #1729, Medium
布
bù
to make known
HSK 6, unknown, 5 strokes, radical 巾, rank #1729, Medium
bù(bu4) T4
1to announce
2to spread
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March 24, 2026
布(佈)bù(bu4)
The character 布 (bù) primarily refers to cloth or textiles, such as cotton or linen. It can also mean to spread or announce, often used in contexts where information is disseminated. In a broader sense, it suggests the act of making something known or visible to others.
Strokes5Radical巾Frequency#1729DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, textiles have significant historical importance, often related to traditional clothing such as silk or cotton garments. The production and trade of cloth have played a vital role in Chinese economic history, symbolizing craftsmanship and cultural identity.
Memory Tip
Imagine a large piece of cloth (布) being spread out across a table to display important information. The sound 'bù' can be remembered as 'boo,' as if you're playfully announcing something surprising as you reveal the fabric.
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AI Study Notes for 布
Quick Contrast
布 (bù, cloth) vs 纺 (fǎng, to spin or weave) — use 布 when referring to the material itself, while 纺 focuses on the process of making textiles.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a large piece of cloth (布) being spread out across a table to display important information. The sound 'bù' can be remembered as 'boo,' as if you're playfully announcing something surprising as you reveal the fabric.
Usage Notes
Be cautious with the tone when pronouncing 布, as it can easily be confused with other characters with similar sounds. It is generally used in both formal and informal contexts, but you will most commonly encounter it in written forms related to textiles or announcements.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 5 word, 布 connects well with other vocabulary related to materials and communication. Students should focus on its various meanings and how it appears in different contexts, such as fabric-related phrases or expressions for announcing news.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, textiles have significant historical importance, often related to traditional clothing such as silk or cotton garments. The production and trade of cloth have played a vital role in Chinese economic history, symbolizing craftsmanship and cultural identity.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 布 (bù) with other similar-sounding characters. For example, saying '布告' (bùgào) as 'bùgāo' is incorrect; the correct pronunciation emphasizes the fourth tone, which could lead to misunderstandings.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 布
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Grammar Patterns of 布
布 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 4 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.
The idea for this book grew out of conversations with Philippa Brewster.
9
这两张唱片还包含了布里顿两首不甚知名的声乐套曲。
zhè liǎng zhāng chàng piàn huán bāo hán le bù lǐ dùn liǎng shǒu bù shèn zhī míng de shēng lè tào qū。
The two discs also contain two of Britten's lesser-known song-cycles.
10
最近的一场雨把瀑布搅成了泥水漩涡。
zuì jìn de yī cháng yǔ bǎ pù bù jiǎo chéng le ní shuǐ xuán wō。
The recent rain had churned up the waterfall into a muddy whirlpool.
Cultural Notes for 布
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, textiles have significant historical importance, often related to traditional clothing such as silk or cotton garments. The production and trade of cloth have played a vital role in Chinese economic history, symbolizing craftsmanship and cultural identity.
Word Family of 布
Compounds11
希xi1to hope
怖bu4terror
饰shi4decoration
钸bu1plutonium
咘
佈bu4to spread, to publicize, to announce
抪
柨
鈽bu4plutonium
鉓
飾shi4to decorate, to adorn; ornament
Words Containing This Character20
宣布xuānbùto declare
公布gōngbùto announce公佈
布bùcloth
发布fābùto release發佈
分布fēnbùto scatter分佈
布什Bush (name)
布置bùzhìto arrange佈置
布局bùjúarrangement佈局
新闻发布会news conference新聞發布會
发布会fābùhuìbriefing發佈會
布朗Brown (name)
颁布bānbùto issue頒布
布鲁克林Brooklyn, borough of New York City布魯克林
布鲁斯blues (music) (loanword)布魯斯
尿布diaper
布莱恩Brian (name)布萊恩
布丁pudding (loanword)
瀑布pùbùwaterfall
遍布biànbùto cover the whole (area)
布拉格Prague, capital of Czech Republic
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 希 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 布
Common phrases that include 布 (bù) are 布告 (bùgào), meaning 'announcement,' and 布置 (bùzhì), which means 'to arrange' or 'to set up.' These phrases are frequently used in both formal and informal contexts.
Yes, 布 (bù) is used in modern Chinese, especially in contexts related to announcements and communication. It may also refer to fabric or cloth, but its usage in announcements is quite common in everyday language.
布 (bù) can mean cloth or fabric, but it also has meanings such as to announce or to spread. It is commonly used in contexts where something is being made known or distributed. In traditional Chinese, 布 is also a variant character used in various phrases related to fabric.
You can use 布 (bù) in sentences like '他在布告栏上布置了通知' (Tā zài bùgàolán shàng bùzhìle tōngzhī), which means 'He announced the notice on the bulletin board.' It is often used in contexts involving announcements or the distribution of information.
You can say '我买了新的布来做衣服' (Wǒ mǎile xīn de bù lái zuò yīfú), meaning 'I bought new cloth to make clothes.'
No, 布 can also refer to the act of spreading or announcing information, so it's versatile in usage.
Common phrases include '布告' (bùgào, notice) and '布置' (bùzhì, to arrange or set up).
