复

復/複/覆

fù

夂 + 日 + 𠂉

Definitions

fù (verb) to return; to resume; to restore; to recover

fù (verb,adverb) to repeat; again

fù (adjective) complex; compound; composite

fù (verb) to reply; to answer

Etymology

Pictograph of a foot entering or exiting a building, representing the meaning "to return".

About

Originally a pictograph of a foot entering or exiting a building, 复 conveyed the meaning "to return". In modern simplified Chinese, it merges three traditional characters: 復, 複, and 覆. 復 combines the step radical 彳 with 复 as phonetic, meaning to return or go back. 複 adds the clothing radical 衤 to 复, indicating something lined or double, later extended to complex. 覆 places the cover radical 襾 over 復 (which itself contains 复), signifying to cover or overturn. As a result, 复 now encompasses returning, repeating, duplicating, and covering.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我经常复习课文。

Wǒ jīngcháng fùxí kèwén.

I often review the text.

请重复你的问题。

Qǐng chóngfù nǐ de wèntí.

Please repeat your question.

他的病已经恢复了。

Tā de bìng yǐjīng huīfù le.

His illness has already recovered.

这个问题很复杂。

Zhège wèntí hěn fùzá.

This problem is very complex.

我需要复印这份文件。

Wǒ xūyào fùyìn zhè fèn wénjiàn.

I need to copy this document.

医生建议他下周复诊。

Yīshēng jiànyì tā xià zhōu fùzhěn.

The doctor suggested he have a follow-up appointment next week.

他们决定复婚了。

Tāmen juédìng fùhūn le.

They decided to remarry.

经过多次反复讨论，我们终于达成了协议。

Jīngguò duō cì fǎnfù tǎolùn, wǒmen zhōngyú dáchéng le xiéyì.

After many repeated discussions, we finally reached an agreement.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 夂

Component: 日

Component: 𠂉

Example Words