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夫 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
夫fūhusbandHSK 7, n, 4 strokes, radical 大, rank #2166, Very Hard
夫fūmanHSK 7, n, 4 strokes, radical 大, rank #2166, Very Hard
夫fūmanual workerHSK 7, n, 4 strokes, radical 大, rank #2166, Very Hard
夫fūconscripted laborer (old)HSK 7, n, 4 strokes, radical 大, rank #2166, Very Hard
夫fū(classical) this, thatHSK 7, n, 4 strokes, radical 大, rank #2166, Very Hard
夫fūhe, she, theyHSK 7, n, 4 strokes, radical 大, rank #2166, Very Hard
夫fū(exclamatory final particle)HSK 7, n, 4 strokes, radical 大, rank #2166, Very Hard
夫fū(initial particle, introduces an opinion)HSK 7, n, 4 strokes, radical 大, rank #2166, Very Hard
夫fūman, husband; worker; thoseHSK 7, n, 4 strokes, radical 大, rank #2166, Very Hard
夫fúhusbandHSK 7, n, 4 strokes, radical 大, rank #2166, Very Hard
夫fúmanHSK 7, n, 4 strokes, radical 大, rank #2166, Very Hard
夫fúmanual workerHSK 7, n, 4 strokes, radical 大, rank #2166, Very Hard
夫fúconscripted laborer (old)HSK 7, n, 4 strokes, radical 大, rank #2166, Very Hard
夫fú(classical) this, thatHSK 7, n, 4 strokes, radical 大, rank #2166, Very Hard
夫fúhe, she, theyHSK 7, n, 4 strokes, radical 大, rank #2166, Very Hard
夫fú(exclamatory final particle)HSK 7, n, 4 strokes, radical 大, rank #2166, Very Hard
夫fú(initial particle, introduces an opinion)HSK 7, n, 4 strokes, radical 大, rank #2166, Very Hard
夫fúman, husband; worker; thoseHSK 7, n, 4 strokes, radical 大, rank #2166, Very Hard
fū(fu1)
primary
T1
  1. 1husband
  2. 2man
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

夫fū(fu1)

The character 夫 (fū) primarily means 'husband' or 'man' in modern Mandarin. It can also refer to a manual worker or conscripted laborer in historical contexts. Additionally, in classical Chinese, it serves as a pronoun meaning 'he' or 'they' and can be used to introduce opinions.

Strokes4Radical大Frequency#2166DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

The term 夫 is commonly used in modern Chinese marriage contexts, reflecting the traditional structure of families where the husband plays a central role. This resonates with the Confucian value placed on family hierarchy and roles.

Memory Tip

Imagine a strong, sturdy man (夫) holding up a family. The character resembles a man standing firm, with the horizontal line representing his shoulders and the vertical line his body. Picture him saying 'fū' as he supports his household.

Meanings of 夫

fū(fu1)
primary
1husband
2man
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 夫

夫Simplified
4Strokes
大Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#2166Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7

Podcast: 夫

JasonAmy

Podcast: 夫

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 夫

Quick Contrast

丈夫 (zhàngfu) - use 夫 (fū) for a more formal or literary context, while 丈夫 (zhàngfu) is more commonly used in everyday conversation.

Usage Notes

While 夫 generally refers to a husband, it's important to clarify the context as it can also denote a worker or a man in general. Avoid using it in overly formal contexts, as it can seem outdated. Common collocations include 夫妇 (fūfù) meaning 'couple' or 'husband and wife'.

HSK Study Tips

Although 夫 is not currently in the HSK vocabulary list, it connects to basic words about family and relationships, such as 妻 (qī, wife). Students should focus on its usage in both modern and classical contexts to understand its nuances.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 夫 with other family terms like 父 (fù, father) or mistakenly use it in informal contexts where more casual terms are preferred. For example, saying '我丈夫在家' (Wǒ zhàngfū zài jiā) is correct, but using 夫 in casual conversation might sound stilted.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 夫

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Etymology of 夫

Formation TypeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Explanation

Pictograph of a man. The top horizontal stroke is traditionally explained as a hairpin which was only worn by adults.

Memory Hint

A man 大 wearing a coming-of-age hairpin 一

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 夫

Pictograph of a man. The top horizontal stroke is traditionally explained as a hairpin which was only worn by adults.

  1. 1The giveawayA man 大 wearing a coming-of-age hairpin 一
  2. 2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.

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

Want the full history of 夫? 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 夫?

Decomposition of 夫

IDS Structure⿻一大
夫Full Character
=
一yi1
outer
大da4
inner
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 夫?

How to say husband in Chinese

“husband” in Chinese is夫fū

The character 夫 (fū) primarily means 'husband' or 'man' in modern Mandarin. It can also refer to a manual worker or conscripted laborer in historical contexts. Additionally, in classical Chinese, it serves as a pronoun meaning 'he' or 'they' and can be used to introduce opinions.

When to use 夫

While 夫 generally refers to a husband, it's important to clarify the context as it can also denote a worker or a man in general. Avoid using it in overly formal contexts, as it can seem outdated. Common collocations include 夫妇 (fūfù) meaning 'couple' or 'husband and wife'.

夫 or something close to it

丈夫 (zhàngfu) - use 夫 (fū) for a more formal or literary context, while 丈夫 (zhàngfu) is more commonly used in everyday conversation.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 夫 with other family terms like 父 (fù, father) or mistakenly use it in informal contexts where more casual terms are preferred. For example, saying '我丈夫在家' (Wǒ zhàngfū zài jiā) is correct, but using 夫 in casual conversation might sound stilted.

Write 夫

夫

Practice writing 夫 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 夫

夫 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 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

Complete the Sentence

他那敢告到张大____头上来了?

How dare he bring a lawsuit against Dr. Zhang!

Example Sentences for 夫 (16)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
现在夫妻双方分别按各自的收入纳税。

xiàn zài fū qī shuāng fāng fēn bié àn gè zì de shōu rù nà shuì。

Husband and wife are now taxed separately on their incomes.
2
“史蒂夫,你要喝点什么?”——“可口可乐,百事,随便啦。”

“ “ shǐ dì, fū , nǐ yào hē diǎn?”——“ shí mó ?”——“ kě, kǒu kě, lè , bǎi。”

"Steve, what do you want?" — "Coke, Pepsi, it doesn't matter."
3
你相信人类并非本来就是一夫一妻制的吗?

nǐ xiāng xìn rén lèi bìng fēi běn lái jiù shì yī fū yī qī zhì de ma?

Do you believe that men are not naturally monogamous?
4
约翰,我为史蒂夫感到难过,但是我想你的决定是正确的。

yuē hàn, , wǒ wéi shǐ dì fū gǎn dào nán, guò , dàn shì wǒ xiǎng nǐ de jué dìng shì zhèng。

John, I'm sorry for Steve, but I think you'vemade the right decisions.
5
我的猫古斯塔夫是我所有的一切——我唯一的伴侣。

wǒ de māo gǔ sī tǎ fū shì wǒ suǒ yǒu de yī qiē—— —— wǒ wéi yī de bàn。

My cat Gustaf was the only thing I had—the only company.
6
经过3个周末的追求之后,帕梅拉接受了伦道夫的求婚。

jīng guò3 3 gè zhōu mò de zhuī qiú zhī, hòu , pà méi lā jiē shòu le lún dào fū de。

After a three-weekend courtship, Pamela accepted Randolph's proposal of marriage.
7
673家私人高尔夫俱乐部参与了最近的研究。

673 673 jiā sī rén gāo ěr fū jù lè bù cān yǔ le zuì jìn de yán。

673 private golf clubs took part in a recent study.
8
喝下午茶的时候,维多利亚与其夫君艾伯特亲王表演了二重唱。

hē xià wǔ chá de shí hòu, , wéi duō lì yà yǔ qí fū jūn ài bó tè qīn wáng biǎo yǎn le èr zhòng。

At tea-time, Victoria sang duets with her Consort, Prince Albert.
9
演奏钢琴的戴夫将这支曲子反复弹了两三遍。

yǎn zòu gāng qín de dài fū jiāng zhè zhī qū zǐ fǎn fù dàn le liǎng sān biàn。

Dave, the pianist, played it over a couple of times.
10
他推断这俩小孩是这对夫妇的。

tā tuī duàn zhè liǎng xiǎo hái shì zhè duì fū fù de。

He deduced that the two children belonged to the couple.
11
她的丈夫是一位著名的考古学家,经常出国考察。

Tā de zhàngfū shì yī wèi zhùmíng de kǎogǔ xuéjiā, jīngcháng chūguó kǎochá.

Her husband is a renowned archaeologist who frequently travels abroad for research.
12
每当她遇到困难,她的丈夫总是第一个站出来支持她。

Měidāng tā yùdào kùnnán, tā de zhàngfū zǒngshì dì yī gè zhàn chūlái zhīchí tā.

Whenever she faces difficulties, her husband is always the first to stand up and support her.
13
她的夫在她生病时无微不至地照顾她。

Tā de fū zài tā shēngbìng shí wúwēibùzhì de zhàogù tā.

Her husband took care of her meticulously when she was ill.
14
在家庭聚会上,她的夫讲述了他们第一次相遇的故事。

Zài jiātíng jùhuì shàng, tā de fū jiǎngshù le tāmen dì yī cì xiāngyù de gùshì.

At the family gathering, her husband told the story of how they first met.
15
作为一名医生,她的夫经常加班,但他总是抽时间陪伴家人。

Zuòwéi yī míng yīshēng, tā de fū jīngcháng jiābān, dàn tā zǒng shì chōu shíjiān péibàn jiārén.

As a doctor, her husband often works overtime, but he always makes time for the family.
16
她的夫不仅是一名优秀的厨师,还擅长园艺。

Tā de fū bùjǐn shì yī míng yōuxiù de chúshī, hái shàncháng yuányì.

Her husband is not only an excellent chef but also skilled in gardening.

Word Family of 夫

Compounds32
规gui1variant of 規
替ti4to substitute for
夹jia1to press from either side
肤fu1skin
芙fu2lotus; hibiscus
扶fu2to support with the hand
麸fu1bran
伕fu1manual laborer
呋fu1used in transliterations
辇nian3hand-cart; to transport by carriage
玞
砆
蚨fu2a kind of water beetle; cash, dollars, money
衭
趺fu1to sit cross-legged; tarsus, instep
鈇
鶏
妋
巬
巭
枎
椝
畉
規gui1rules, regulations, customs, law
賛
輦nian3hand-cart; to transport by carriage
酜
颫
鬶
鳺
麩fu1bran
齤
Words Containing This Character20
丈夫zhàngfuhusband
夫人fūrénlady
夫fūman
夫妻fūqīhusband and wife
夫妇fūfùa (married) couple夫婦
功夫gōngfuskill
高尔夫golf (loanword)高爾夫
大夫dàfūdoctor
高尔夫球gāoěrfūqiúgolf高爾夫球
老夫I (spoken by an old man)
工夫gōngfuskill
未婚夫fiancé
前夫former husband
杰夫Jeff or Geoff (name)傑夫
懦夫coward
姐夫(coll.) older sister's husband
史蒂夫Steve (male name)
下功夫xiàgōngfuto put in time and energy
赫鲁晓夫Nikita Khrushchev (1894-1971), secretary-general of Soviet Communist Party 1953-1964赫魯曉夫
南斯拉夫Yugoslavia, 1943-1992
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 规 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 夫

夫 is a more formal term for 'husband', often used in writing or traditional contexts, while 老公 is an informal, affectionate term used in everyday conversation.

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