抚

撫

fǔ

扌 + 无

Definitions

fǔ (verb) to stroke; to caress

fǔ (verb) to comfort; to console

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 扌 represents the meaning and 无 represents the sound. Simplified form of 撫.

Semantic: 扌 Phonetic: 无

About

The simplified character 抚 is a phono-semantic compound derived from 撫. Its semantic radical 扌 (shǒu, 'hand') points to the hand's role in stroking, patting, and other soothing gestures, and from these physical actions come the extended meanings of comforting, consoling, and nurturing, often in the context of raising children or caring for others. The phonetic is 无 (wú), a simplified version of the traditional phonetic 無 (wú, 'without'). While 無 originally contributed no meaning, 无 serves purely as a sound indicator. The character thus unites tactile affection with emotional support and long-term care.

Etymology Hide

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical Western Jin dynasty (266-316 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

妈妈温柔地抚摸孩子。

Māma wēnróu de fǔmō háizi.

The mother gently strokes the child.

父母辛苦地抚养我长大。

Fùmǔ xīnkǔ de fǔyǎng wǒ zhǎng dà.

My parents worked hard to raise me.

他经常抚弄自己的胡须。

Tā jīngcháng fǔnòng zìjǐ de húxū.

He often strokes his beard.

这首歌曲能抚慰人的心灵。

Zhè shǒu gēqǔ néng fǔwèi rén de xīnlíng.

This song can soothe people's souls.

春风轻柔地抚过湖面。

Chūnfēng qīngróu de fǔ guò húmiàn.

The spring breeze gently brushed over the lake surface.

政府出台了新的扶贫政策。

Zhèngfǔ chūtáile xīn de fúpín zhèngcè.

The government introduced a new poverty alleviation policy.

这位巡抚因治理有方面闻名。

Zhè wèi xúnfǔ yīn zhìlǐ yǒufāng ér wénmíng.

This provincial governor was famous for his capable administration.

他用幽默的话语抚平了现场的紧张气氛。

Tā yòng yōumò de huàyǔ fǔpíngle xiànchǎng de jǐnzhāng qìfēn.

He used humorous words to smooth over the tense atmosphere at the scene.

Related Characters

Component: 扌

Component: 无

抚