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佛 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
佛
fó
Buddha
HSK 7, n, 7 strokes, radical 亻, rank #4455, Very Hard
佛
fó
seemingly
HSK 7, n, 7 strokes, radical 亻, rank #4455, Very Hard
佛
fó
Buddhism
HSK 7, n, 7 strokes, radical 亻, rank #4455, Very Hard
佛
fó
(female) head ornament
HSK 7, n, 7 strokes, radical 亻, rank #4455, Very Hard
佛
fó
Buddha; Buddhist
HSK 7, n, 7 strokes, radical 亻, rank #4455, Very Hard
佛
fú
Buddha
HSK 7, n, 7 strokes, radical 亻, rank #4455, Very Hard
佛
fú
seemingly
HSK 7, n, 7 strokes, radical 亻, rank #4455, Very Hard
佛
fú
Buddhism
HSK 7, n, 7 strokes, radical 亻, rank #4455, Very Hard
佛
fú
(female) head ornament
HSK 7, n, 7 strokes, radical 亻, rank #4455, Very Hard
佛
fú
Buddha; Buddhist
HSK 7, n, 7 strokes, radical 亻, rank #4455, Very Hard
fó(Fo2)fo
primary
T2
1Buddha
2seemingly
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
佛(髴)fó(Fo2)
The character 佛 (fó) primarily refers to the Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, and is commonly used in religious contexts. It can also denote anything related to Buddhism and can signify a sense of enlightenment or spiritual wisdom. In a broader sense, it may refer to seemingly or apparently, conveying a notion that something is perceived but may not be the case.
Strokes7Radical亻Frequency#4455DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
佛 (fó) is central to Chinese culture, especially in regions where Buddhism has a significant influence, such as in temple architecture and art. The character is often seen in religious texts, sculptures, and during traditional festivals celebrating Buddhist teachings.
Memory tip
Imagine a serene figure sitting in meditation, surrounded by a golden glow, representing the Buddha. The character 佛 resembles a person sitting cross-legged, embodying tranquility, which helps you remember its meaning as 'Buddha'. The pronunciation 'fó' can be linked to 'flow', suggesting a calm flow of spiritual wisdom.
Meanings of 佛
fó(Fo2)
primary
1Buddha
2seemingly
Exercise 1 of 3
By ear
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About 佛
佛Simplified
髴Traditional
7Strokes
亻Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#4455Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7IntermediateTOCFLL5HSKKL3CEFRC1
Podcast: 佛
Podcast: 佛
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AI study notes for 佛
Quick Contrast
释 (shì) - use 佛 (fó) when specifically referring to the Buddha or Buddhism, while 释 (shì) is more general and can refer to explanations or interpretations.
Usage Notes
佛 (fó) is typically used in formal or religious contexts, so avoid using it in casual conversations. A common mistake is confusing it with the similar-sounding character 伏 (fú), which means to lie down. Be mindful of using 佛 with appropriate collocations like 佛教 (Buddhism) or 佛像 (Buddha statue).
HSK Study Tips
While 佛 (fó) is not included in HSK levels, it connects with HSK vocabulary related to religion and philosophy. Students should focus on understanding its cultural significance and practice using it in sentences about Buddhism and spirituality.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 佛 (fó) with similar-sounding characters like 伏 (fú) or 佛像 (fóxiàng) with incorrect tones. For example, saying '伏像' instead of '佛像' can lead to misunderstanding, as it alters the intended meaning.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 佛
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佛 = 亻 + 弗. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 佛
IDS Structure⿰亻弗
佛Full character
=
亻ren2
left
弗fu2
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 佛?
How to say Buddha in Chinese
“Buddha” in Chinese is佛fó
The character 佛 (fó) primarily refers to the Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, and is commonly used in religious contexts. It can also denote anything related to Buddhism and can signify a sense of enlightenment or spiritual wisdom. In a broader sense, it may refer to seemingly or apparently, conveying a notion that something is perceived but may not be the case.
When to use 佛
佛 (fó) is typically used in formal or religious contexts, so avoid using it in casual conversations. A common mistake is confusing it with the similar-sounding character 伏 (fú), which means to lie down. Be mindful of using 佛 with appropriate collocations like 佛教 (Buddhism) or 佛像 (Buddha statue).
佛 or something close to it
释 (shì) - use 佛 (fó) when specifically referring to the Buddha or Buddhism, while 释 (shì) is more general and can refer to explanations or interpretations.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 佛 (fó) with similar-sounding characters like 伏 (fú) or 佛像 (fóxiàng) with incorrect tones. For example, saying '伏像' instead of '佛像' can lead to misunderstanding, as it alters the intended meaning.
Write 佛
佛
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Practice writing 佛 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 佛
佛 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 5 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.
Two friends and I drove to Florida during college spring break.
9
佛罗里达所有的那些好去处都在变得越来越都市化。
fó luō lǐ dá suǒyǒu de nàxiē hǎo qùchù dōu zài biàn de yuèláiyuè dūshì huà。
All the nice areas in Florida are becoming more and more urbanized.
10
他在那种情况下对佛教产生兴趣并不稀奇。
tā zài nà zhǒng qíngkuàng xià duì fójiào chǎnshēng xìngqù bìng bù xīqí。
Untypically for a man in that situation he became interested in Buddhism.
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Cultural Notes for 佛
🌏Cross-cultural Insight
In Western cultures, the concept of Buddha is often associated with meditation and mindfulness, but may lack the deep religious connotations that it holds in Chinese culture as part of a larger spiritual community.
Word Family of 佛
Compounds1
梻fó
Words containing this character20
佛fóseemingly髴
仿佛fǎngfúto seem彷彿
哈佛hāfóHarvard
佛罗里达fóluólǐdáFlorida佛羅里達
佛教fójiàoBuddhism
佛山fóshānFoshan prefecture-level city in Guangdong
丹佛dānfóDenver, Colorado
阿弥陀佛ēmítuófóAmitabha Buddha阿彌陀佛
佛罗里达州fóluólǐdázhōuFlorida佛羅里達州
佛祖fózǔBuddha
佛罗伦萨fóluólúnsàFlorence, city in Italy佛羅倫薩
哈佛大学hāfódàxuéHarvard University哈佛大學
佛山市fóshānshìFoshan prefecture-level city in Guangdong 廣東省|广东省[Guǎngdōngshěng]
佛门fóménBuddhism佛門
佛蒙特州fóméngtèzhōuVermont, US state
佛法fófǎBuddhist doctrine
多佛duōfóDover
佛教徒fójiàotúBuddhist
雪佛兰xuěfólánChevrolet雪佛蘭
佛陀fótuóBuddha (a person who has attained Buddhahood, or specifically Siddhartha Gautama)
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 佛
What does 仿佛 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 佛
佛 (Fó) is the standard character for 'Buddha', while 彿 (fú) is a variant form. In modern usage, 佛 is more commonly used in texts related to Buddhism, while 彿 may appear in historical contexts or specific dialects.
佛 (Fó) can be used in sentences like '我学习佛教的教义' (Wǒ xuéxí Fójiào de jiàoyì), which translates to 'I study the teachings of Buddhism.' It is often used in religious contexts or discussions about spiritual beliefs.
In Buddhist texts, 佛 (Fó) is frequently mentioned in relation to teachings and doctrines. It may appear in phrases such as '佛法' (Fófǎ), meaning 'the teachings of the Buddha.' Understanding its usage is essential for those studying Buddhism or Chinese philosophy.
佛 (Fó, fú) refers to 'Buddha' and is often associated with Buddhism. The character signifies the concept of enlightenment and the teachings of Buddhism. It can also be used in various contexts related to spirituality and philosophy.
佛 is the standard character used for 'Buddha,' while 彿 is a variant that is less commonly used and often seen in historical texts.
Although 佛 is primarily a religious term, it can be found in discussions about spirituality, philosophy, or when referring to Buddhist teachings.
Yes, 佛 can be found in modern literature, especially in works that explore themes of spirituality, morality, or cultural heritage.
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