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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)pu
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

By ear

Play it, then pick what 铺 means.

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

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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
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

铺 = 钅 + 甫. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 铺

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

Parts

Which of these is part 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.

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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

Fill the gap

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

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)

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1
跟肉铺老板要煲汤用的骨头（最好是髓骨）。

gēn ròu pū lǎobǎn yào bāo shāng yòng de gǔtou（ zuìhǎo shì suǐ gǔ）。

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 pū” shì20 shìjì80 niándài shāngyè chénggōng de fàn lì zhīyī。

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。

jūnduì de chè chū wèi dúlì pū píng le dàolù。

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 zhǎnkāi lái， bǎ tāmen chèdǐ chōngxǐ le yíxià。

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 kěyǐ cúnfàng dōngxi。

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 yuánlái fángjiān de chuáng pū zhěnglǐ 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。

yǔcǐtóngshí zhèng gǎn zhe zài xiàzhōu sān zhīqián bǎ lùmiàn chóngxīn 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 mǔqīn zài tā céngjīng zhù guò de fángjiān 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 dōu zhěnglǐ hǎo， ránhòu bǎ yòu’ér shì shōushi tíng dāng。

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

dìmiàn pū de shì tòuqì xìng hǎode shí mù dìbǎn。

The floor was draughty bare boards.

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Word Family of 铺

Words containing this character19
铺pūshop鋪
店铺diànpùstore店鋪
铺设pūshèto install (wiring, cable)鋪設
铺盖pūgaibedding鋪蓋
当铺dàngpùpawn shop當舖
床铺chuángpùbed床鋪
铺天盖地pūtiāngàidìomnipresent鋪天蓋地
铺路pūlùto lay a road鋪路
铺床pūchuángto make a bed鋪床
铺垫pūdiànbedcover鋪墊
铺子pùzistore鋪子
卧铺wòpùa couchette臥鋪
铺平pūpíngto spread out (material)鋪平
铺位pùwèibunk鋪位
铺张浪费pūzhānglàngfèiextravagance and waste (idiom)鋪張浪費
铺张pūzhāngostentation鋪張
铺面pūmiànpaving鋪面
商铺shāngpùshop商舖
铺轨pūguǐto lay railway track鋪軌
Exercise 1 of 4

Words with 铺

What does 店铺 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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