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March 24, 2026
扑(撲)pū(pu1)
The character 扑 (pū) primarily means to throw oneself at or to pounce on something. It can also imply an act of flapping or fluttering, as seen in the context of birds or other creatures that move quickly. Commonly used in situations involving an attack or a sudden movement, it conveys a sense of urgency or energy in the action.
Strokes5Radical扌Frequency#5802DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, the act of pouncing or attacking can be related to martial arts, where quick, unexpected movements are essential. The concept of 'pū' is often illustrated in martial arts movies where fighters suddenly leap to strike their opponents.
Memory Tip
Imagine a playful puppy (扑 sounds like 'pū') that suddenly jumps to pounce on a butterfly. The radical 扌 (hand) suggests action, that the puppy is using its paws to flap and dive toward its target, making the act of 'pū' memorable and vivid.
Meanings of 扑
pū(pu1)
1to throw oneself at
2to pounce on
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
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About 扑
扑Simplified
撲Traditional
5Strokes
扌Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#5802Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L6IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRC1
Podcast: 扑
Podcast: 扑
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AI Study Notes for 扑
Quick Contrast
扑 (pū) vs 跳 (tiào) — use 扑 for actions involving pouncing or attacking, while 跳 is used for jumping or leaping.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 扑 with similar verbs like 打 (dǎ), which means to hit or strike. While both can describe physical actions, 扑 emphasizes the suddenness and energy of attacking or pouncing. It's more informal, so be cautious using it in formal contexts.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK 6 word, 扑 expands on the themes of action and energy found in lower levels. Students should practice using it in various contexts, such as in idiomatic expressions or phrases related to sports or animals, to deepen their understanding.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes misuse 扑 when they mean to express a more gentle action like 轻拍 (qīng pāi) for 'lightly patting.' For example, saying '我扑她的肩膀' (wǒ pū tā de jiānbǎng) instead of '我轻拍她的肩膀' (wǒ qīng pāi tā de jiānbǎng) is incorrect.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 扑
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How Well Do You Know 扑?
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Learning Lab
Knowing 扑 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
扑 = 扌 + 卜. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 扑
IDS Structure⿰扌卜
扑Full Character
=
扌shou3
left
卜—
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 扑?
How to say to throw oneself at in Chinese
“to throw oneself at” in Chinese is扑pū
The character 扑 (pū) primarily means to throw oneself at or to pounce on something. It can also imply an act of flapping or fluttering, as seen in the context of birds or other creatures that move quickly. Commonly used in situations involving an attack or a sudden movement, it conveys a sense of urgency or energy in the action.
When to use 扑
Learners often confuse 扑 with similar verbs like 打 (dǎ), which means to hit or strike. While both can describe physical actions, 扑 emphasizes the suddenness and energy of attacking or pouncing. It's more informal, so be cautious using it in formal contexts.
扑 or something close to it
扑 (pū) vs 跳 (tiào) — use 扑 for actions involving pouncing or attacking, while 跳 is used for jumping or leaping.
What learners get wrong
Learners sometimes misuse 扑 when they mean to express a more gentle action like 轻拍 (qīng pāi) for 'lightly patting.' For example, saying '我扑她的肩膀' (wǒ pū tā de jiānbǎng) instead of '我轻拍她的肩膀' (wǒ qīng pāi tā de jiānbǎng) is incorrect.
Write 扑
扑
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Practice writing 扑 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 扑
扑 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. 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.
Exercise 1 of 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
小孩走了5步，接着____通一声坐到了地上。
The child took five steps, and then sat down with a bump.
