Definitions

hatchet

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character 斧 is a phono-semantic compound. Its lower half is the radical 斤, which independently means axe and provides the core semantic category. The upper component, 父 (father), functions here solely as a phonetic indicator. The character defines a heavy hand tool with a bladed head on a wooden handle, used for chopping wood or felling trees, and historically as a weapon. This literal meaning has remained dominant throughout its history.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Spring and Autumn (~500 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Spring and Autumn (771-476 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 Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

他拿起了一把头。

Tā ná qǐ le yī bǎ fǔtóu.

He picked up an axe.

樵夫用子砍柴。

Qiáofū yòng fǔzi kǎn chái.

The woodcutter uses an axe to chop firewood.

这把头非常锋利。

Zhè bǎ fǔtóu fēicháng fēnglì.

This axe is very sharp.

爷爷用子劈开了木桩。

Yéye yòng fǔzi pī kāi le mùzhuāng.

Grandpa split the wooden stump with an axe.

工具棚里有一把旧头。

Gōngjù péng lǐ yǒu yī bǎ jiù fǔtóu.

There is an old axe in the toolshed.

考古学家发现了一把古代石

Kǎogǔ xuéjiā fāxiàn le yī bǎ gǔdài shífǔ.

The archaeologist discovered an ancient stone axe.

这把青铜是重要的历史文物。

Zhè bǎ qīngtóng fǔ shì zhòngyào de lìshǐ wénwù.

This bronze axe is an important historical artifact.

消防通常放在紧急出口旁边。

Xiāofáng fǔ tōngcháng fàng zài jǐnjí chūkǒu pángbiān.

Fire axes are usually placed next to emergency exits.