俯

俛

fǔ

亻 + 府

Definitions

fǔ (verb) to look down; to stoop

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 亻 represents the meaning and 府 represents the sound. Simplified form of 俛.

Semantic: 亻 Phonetic: 府

About

俯 is the simplified form of 俛, a phono-semantic compound. The left component 亻(person) categorizes it under human actions, postures, or bodily movements. The right component 府 (fǔ), which independently means a government office or official residence, serves as the phonetic indicator. Its core meaning is the physical act of bowing one's head, bending forward, or looking downward from a higher position. This literal sense extended into abstract and social contexts to convey submission, yielding, or showing deference to authority. The character also describes looking down from an elevated vantage point to survey a landscape, shifting the emphasis from bodily posture to the downward direction of the gaze.

Etymology Hide

Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

他从楼上俯视街道。

Tā cóng lóu shàng fǔshì jiēdào.

He looks down at the street from upstairs.

他俯身捡起地上的书。

Tā fǔshēn jiǎn qǐ dì shàng de shū.

He bends down to pick up the book from the ground.

我们从山顶俯瞰整个城市。

Wǒmen cóng shāndǐng fǔkàn zhěnggè chéngshì.

We overlook the entire city from the mountaintop.

老鹰俯冲下来捕捉猎物。

Lǎoyīng fǔchōng xiàlái bǔzhuō lièwù.

The eagle dives down to catch its prey.

她俯首默默承受着批评。

Tā fǔshǒu mòmò chéngshòu zhe pīpíng.

She bowed her head and silently endured the criticism.

这幅画描绘了俯身插秧的农民。

Zhè fú huà miáohuì le fǔshēn chā yāng de nóngmín.

This painting depicts farmers bending over to transplant rice seedlings.

请俯卧在垫子上开始练习。

Qǐng fǔwò zài diànzi shàng kāishǐ liànxí.

Please lie prone on the mat to begin the exercise.

他俯察自己的内心，寻找答案。

Tā fǔchá zìjǐ de nèixīn, xúnzhǎo dá'àn.

He looks deeply into his own heart to find the answer.

Related Characters

Component: 亻

Component: 府

俯