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铺 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
铺pùstoreHSK 6, v, 12 strokes, radical 钅, rank #4969, Hard
铺pùplank bedHSK 6, v, 12 strokes, radical 钅, rank #4969, Hard
铺pùplace to sleepHSK 6, v, 12 strokes, radical 钅, rank #4969, Hard
铺pùshopHSK 6, v, 12 strokes, radical 钅, rank #4969, Hard
铺pù(old) relay stationHSK 6, v, 12 strokes, radical 钅, rank #4969, Hard
铺pùto spreadHSK 6, v, 12 strokes, radical 钅, rank #4969, Hard
铺pùto displayHSK 6, v, 12 strokes, radical 钅, rank #4969, Hard
铺pùto set upHSK 6, v, 12 strokes, radical 钅, rank #4969, Hard
铺pù(old) holder for door-knockerHSK 6, v, 12 strokes, radical 钅, rank #4969, Hard
铺pùshop, store; bed, mattressHSK 6, v, 12 strokes, radical 钅, rank #4969, Hard
铺pūstoreHSK 6, v, 12 strokes, radical 钅, rank #4969, Hard
铺pūplank bedHSK 6, v, 12 strokes, radical 钅, rank #4969, Hard
铺pūplace to sleepHSK 6, v, 12 strokes, radical 钅, rank #4969, Hard
铺pūshopHSK 6, v, 12 strokes, radical 钅, rank #4969, Hard
铺pū(old) relay stationHSK 6, v, 12 strokes, radical 钅, rank #4969, Hard
铺pūto spreadHSK 6, v, 12 strokes, radical 钅, rank #4969, Hard
铺pūto displayHSK 6, v, 12 strokes, radical 钅, rank #4969, Hard
铺pūto set upHSK 6, v, 12 strokes, radical 钅, rank #4969, Hard
铺pū(old) holder for door-knockerHSK 6, v, 12 strokes, radical 钅, rank #4969, Hard
铺pūshop, store; bed, mattressHSK 6, v, 12 strokes, radical 钅, rank #4969, Hard
pū(pu1)
primary
 T1
  1. 1store
  2. 2plank bed
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

铺(舖)pū(pu1)

The character 铺 (pū) primarily means 'to spread' or 'to display,' and is often used in contexts involving laying out items or setting up a shop. It can also refer to a store or a place to sleep, such as a bed or mattress. In historical contexts, it may denote a relay station or a holder for a door-knocker.

Strokes12Radical钅Frequency#4969DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese culture, the concept of a shop or marketplace is significant, often serving as a community hub where social interactions take place. The term 铺 reflects the importance of commerce in historical Chinese society.

Memory Tip

Imagine a shopkeeper 'spreading' out their goods on a table. The two components of 铺 include '金' (metal), which suggests value, and '铺', which resembles a bed or platform where items are displayed. Picture the shopkeeper spreading their finest items on a golden bed to attract customers.

Meanings of 铺

pū(pu1)
primary
1store
2plank bed
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 铺

铺Simplified
舖Traditional
12Strokes
钅Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#4969Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L6IntermediateHSKKL3BCT✓CEFRC1

Podcast: 铺

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Podcast: 铺

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 铺

Quick Contrast

铺 (pū) vs 展 (zhǎn) — use 铺 (pū) when referring to spreading out items or setting up a shop, while 展 (zhǎn) emphasizes displaying or exhibiting items.

Usage Notes

Common mistakes include confusing 铺 (pū) with its homophones like 铺 (pù), which has different meanings. It is more commonly used in informal contexts when referring to shops or displays. Be careful with tones, as mispronouncing can lead to misunderstandings.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK Level 6 word, 铺 connects to other words related to commerce and living arrangements. Students should focus on its various meanings and usages in different contexts, particularly in business or daily life settings.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 铺 (pū) with 铺 (pù) due to similar pronunciation. For example, saying '我去铺买东西' instead of '我去铺商店买东西' (I am going to the shop to buy things) is incorrect; the correct form uses 铺 as a verb in context.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 铺

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Etymology of 铺

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

Phonosemantic compound. 钅 represents the meaning and 甫 represents the sound. Simplified form of 鋪.

Memory Hint

money

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 铺

Phonosemantic compound. 钅 represents the meaning and 甫 represents the sound. Simplified form of 鋪.

  1. 1The meaning half钅 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half甫 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawaymoney
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

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

Want the full history of 铺? 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 铺?

Decomposition of 铺

IDS Structure⿰钅甫
铺Full Character
=
钅jin1
left
甫fu3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 铺?

How to say store in Chinese

“store” in Chinese is铺pù

The character 铺 (pū) primarily means 'to spread' or 'to display,' and is often used in contexts involving laying out items or setting up a shop. It can also refer to a store or a place to sleep, such as a bed or mattress. In historical contexts, it may denote a relay station or a holder for a door-knocker.

When to use 铺

Common mistakes include confusing 铺 (pū) with its homophones like 铺 (pù), which has different meanings. It is more commonly used in informal contexts when referring to shops or displays. Be careful with tones, as mispronouncing can lead to misunderstandings.

铺 or something close to it

铺 (pū) vs 展 (zhǎn) — use 铺 (pū) when referring to spreading out items or setting up a shop, while 展 (zhǎn) emphasizes displaying or exhibiting items.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 铺 (pū) with 铺 (pù) due to similar pronunciation. For example, saying '我去铺买东西' instead of '我去铺商店买东西' (I am going to the shop to buy things) is incorrect; the correct form uses 铺 as a verb in context.

Write 铺

铺

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar Patterns of 铺

铺 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 10 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

Complete the Sentence

跟肉____老板要煲汤用的骨头（最好是髓骨）。

Ask the butcher for soup bones (marrow bones are best).

Example Sentences for 铺 (10)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
跟肉铺老板要煲汤用的骨头（最好是髓骨）。

gēn ròu pū lǎo bǎn yào bāo tāng yòng de gǔ tóu（ （ zuì hǎo shì suǐ）。

Ask the butcher for soup bones (marrow bones are best).
2
“袜铺”是20世纪80年代商业成功的范例之一。

“ “ wà” pū20 ” shì80 20 shì jì 80 nián dài shāng yè chéng gōng de。

Sock Shop was one of the high-street success stories of the 80s.
3
军队的撤出为独立铺平了道路。

jūn duì de chè chū wéi dú lì pū píng le dào lù。

The pull-out of the army paves the way for independence.
4
他把软管铺展开来，把它们彻底冲洗了一下。

tā bǎ ruǎn guǎn pū zhǎn kāi lái， ， bǎ tā mén chè dǐ chōng xǐ le yī。

He uncoiled the hose and gave them a thorough drenching.
5
铺位下方有成排的储物柜可以存放东西。

pū wèi xià fāng yǒu chéng pái de chǔ wù guì kě yǐ cún fàng dōng xī。

Stowage is provided in lined lockers beneath the berths.
6
我会把你原来房间的床铺整理好。

wǒ huì bǎ nǐ yuán lái fáng jiān de chuáng pū zhěng lǐ hǎo。

I'll make up the bed in your old room.
7
与此同时正赶着在下周三之前把路面重新铺好。

yǔ cǐ tóng shí zhèng gǎn zháo zài xià zhōu sān zhī qián bǎ lù miàn zhòng xīn pū hǎo。

Meanwhile the race is on to resurface the road before next Wednesday.
8
她母亲在她曾经住过的房间里铺好了一张床。

tā mǔ qīn zài tā zēng jīng zhù guò de fáng jiān lǐ pū hǎo le yī zhāng chuáng。

Her mother made up a bed in her old room.
9
安妮把床铺都整理好，然后把幼儿室收拾停当。

ān nī bǎ chuáng pū dū zhěng lǐ hǎo， ， rán hòu bǎ yòu ér shì shōu shí tíng。

Anne made the beds and tidied up the nursery.
10
地面铺的是透气性好的实木地板。

dì miàn pū de shì tòu qì xìng hǎo de shí mù dì bǎn。

The floor was draughty bare boards.

Word Family of 铺

Words Containing This Character19
铺pūshop鋪
店铺store店鋪
铺设to install (wiring, cable)鋪設
铺盖bedding鋪蓋
当铺pawn shop當舖
床铺bed床鋪
铺天盖地omnipresent鋪天蓋地
铺路pūlùto lay a road鋪路
铺床to make a bed鋪床
铺垫bedcover鋪墊
铺子store鋪子
卧铺wòpùa couchette臥鋪
铺平to spread out (material)鋪平
铺位bunk鋪位
铺张浪费extravagance and waste (idiom)鋪張浪費
铺张ostentation鋪張
铺面paving鋪面
商铺shop商舖
铺轨to lay railway track鋪軌
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 铺 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 铺

You can say '我在商店里铺货' (I am displaying goods in the shop).

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