仆

僕

pū, pú

亻 + 卜

Definitions

pú (noun) servant

pū (verb) to fall forward; to fall prostrate

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 亻 represents the meaning and 卜 represents the sound. Simplified form of 僕.

Semantic: 亻 Phonetic: 卜

About

The modern character 仆 merges two historically separate characters with different pronunciations and meanings. The older one, pronounced pū, is a phonosemantic compound: the 亻 radical indicates a person, and 卜 gives the sound. It describes a person falling forward or lying prone. This same form was later adopted as the simplified version of 僕 (pú), which also has 亻 but pairs it with the complex phonetic 菐. 僕 means a domestic servant, a loyal retainer, or a humble term officials used for themselves.

Etymology Hide

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这个仆人很聪明。

Zhège púrén hěn cōngmíng.

This servant is very smart.

他雇佣了一个仆人。

Tā gùyōngle yīgè púrén.

He hired a servant.

国王有许多仆从。

Guówáng yǒu xǔduō púcóng.

The king has many attendants.

仆役们正在打扫房间。

Púyìmen zhèngzài dǎsǎo fángjiān.

The servants are cleaning the room.

他不小心仆倒在地。

Tā bù xiǎoxīn pū dǎo zài dì.

He accidentally fell to the ground.

那个老仆人讲述了过去的故事。

Nàgè lǎo púrén jiǎngshùle guòqù de gùshi.

That old servant told stories from the past.

在古代，仆人的地位非常低下。

Zài gǔdài, púrén de dìwèi fēicháng dīxià.

In ancient times, the status of servants was very low.

尽管他出身仆役家庭，但通过努力成为了学者。

Jǐnguǎn tā chūshēn púyì jiātíng, dàn tōngguò nǔlì chéngwéile xuézhě.

Although he came from a servant family, he became a scholar through hard work.

Related Characters

Component: 亻

Component: 卜

仆