匍

pú

勹 + 甫

Frequency#4202

Definitions

pú used in 匍匐[pú fú]

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 勹 represents the meaning and 甫 represents the sound.

Semantic: 勹 Phonetic: 甫

About

The character "匍" is structurally composed of the radical "勹", which conveys a sense of bending or enveloping, combined with the phonetic component "甫" that historically indicated its pronunciation. Etymologically, this configuration suggests an original association with a crouched or bowed posture, aligning with its enduring role in the compound "匍匐" to describe crawling or creeping. While the character once may have encompassed broader connotations related to prostration or stooping, its independent usage gradually faded, and its meaning became specialized within this bimorphemic term, focusing specifically on the act of moving with the body close to the ground.

Etymology Hide

Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)

Bronze Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Jin dynasty (266-420 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

士兵匍匐前进。

shì bīng pú fú qián jìn.

The soldier crawls forward.

宝宝在地上匍匐。

bǎo bao zài dì shàng pú fú.

The baby is crawling on the ground.

匍匐的姿势很重要。

pú fú de zī shì hěn zhòng yào.

The crawling posture is very important.

他们匍匐穿过草丛。

tā men pú fú chuān guò cǎo cóng.

They crawl through the grass.

为了躲避敌人，他匍匐前进。

wèi le duǒ bì dí rén, tā pú fú qián jìn.

In order to avoid the enemy, he crawls forward.

在军事训练中，士兵必须练习匍匐。

zài jūn shì xùn liàn zhōng, shì bīng bì xū liàn xí pú fú.

In military training, soldiers must practice crawling.

匍匐前进可以有效降低被发现的概率。

pú fú qián jìn kě yǐ yǒu xiào jiàng dī bèi fā xiàn de gài lǜ.

Crawling forward can effectively lower the probability of being detected.

尽管地面布满了碎石，侦察兵依然匍匐靠近了目标。

jǐn guǎn dì miàn bù mǎn le suì shí, zhēn chá bīng yī rán pú fú kào jìn le mù biāo.

Even though the ground was covered with gravel, the scout still crawled close to the target.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 勹

Component: 甫

匍