HSK 7, v, 15 strokes, radical 攵, rank #9725, Very Hard
敷
fū
to lay out
HSK 7, v, 15 strokes, radical 攵, rank #9725, Very Hard
敷
fū
to apply (powder, ointment etc)
HSK 7, v, 15 strokes, radical 攵, rank #9725, Very Hard
敷
fū
sufficient (to cover)
HSK 7, v, 15 strokes, radical 攵, rank #9725, Very Hard
敷
fū
enough
HSK 7, v, 15 strokes, radical 攵, rank #9725, Very Hard
敷
fū
to apply, to paint, to spread
HSK 7, v, 15 strokes, radical 攵, rank #9725, Very Hard
fū(fu1)fu T1
1to spread
2to lay out
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March 24, 2026
敷fū(fu1)
The character 敷 (fū) primarily means 'to spread' or 'to apply,' often in the context of applying ointments, powders, or other substances on a surface. It can also imply that something is sufficient to cover an area, indicating completeness or adequacy in application. This term is frequently used in medical or cosmetic contexts.
Strokes15Radical攵Frequency#9725DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of applying medicinal herbs or ointments is deeply rooted in traditional medicine. The practice of 敷 is common when utilizing herbal remedies, which are often used to treat various ailments.
Memory Tip
Imagine a chef spreading icing on a cake to make it look beautiful. The word 敷 sounds like 'foo,' so picture the chef saying 'foo, this will make it perfect!' The character has a component 亻 (man) indicating action, showing that this is something that requires doing.
Meanings of 敷
fū(fu1)
1to spread
2to lay out
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 敷 means.
About 敷
敷Simplified
15Strokes
攵Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#9725Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2
Podcast: 敷
Podcast: 敷
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AI Study Notes for 敷
Quick Contrast
涂 (tú) - use 敷 when referring specifically to applying a substance evenly, while 涂 is more general and can imply painting or coating.
Usage Notes
Common mistakes include confusing 敷 with similar-sounding words like 服 (fú, to wear) or 抚 (fǔ, to pat). While 敷 is more commonly used in informal contexts regarding application, it can also appear in formal medical discussions. Be mindful of the fourth tone when pronouncing it to avoid confusion with other words.
HSK Study Tips
Although 敷 is not included in the HSK vocabulary list, it connects with words related to health and care, such as 医 (yī, medicine) and 药 (yào, medicine). Students should focus on the contexts in which 敷 is used, particularly in relation to treatments and applications.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 敷 with 服 (fú), leading to incorrect sentences like '我需要服药' (Wǒ xūyào fú yào), which incorrectly implies 'I need to wear medicine.' The correct form is '我需要敷药.'
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 敷
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How Well Do You Know 敷?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 敷 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.
敷 = 攵 + 旉. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 敷
IDS Structure⿰旉攵
敷Full Character
=
旉fu1
left
攵pu1
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 敷?
How to say to spread in Chinese
“to spread” in Chinese is敷fū
The character 敷 (fū) primarily means 'to spread' or 'to apply,' often in the context of applying ointments, powders, or other substances on a surface. It can also imply that something is sufficient to cover an area, indicating completeness or adequacy in application. This term is frequently used in medical or cosmetic contexts.
When to use 敷
Common mistakes include confusing 敷 with similar-sounding words like 服 (fú, to wear) or 抚 (fǔ, to pat). While 敷 is more commonly used in informal contexts regarding application, it can also appear in formal medical discussions. Be mindful of the fourth tone when pronouncing it to avoid confusion with other words.
敷 or something close to it
涂 (tú) - use 敷 when referring specifically to applying a substance evenly, while 涂 is more general and can imply painting or coating.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 敷 with 服 (fú), leading to incorrect sentences like '我需要服药' (Wǒ xūyào fú yào), which incorrectly implies 'I need to wear medicine.' The correct form is '我需要敷药.'
Write 敷
敷
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Practice writing 敷 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 敷
敷 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 6 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.
