脯

fǔ, pú

月 + 甫

Definitions

fǔ (noun) dried meat; preserved fruit

pú (noun) chest; breast

Etymology

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

Semantic: ⺼ Phonetic: 甫

About

脯 is a phonosemantic compound: the left-hand component ⺼ (flesh) carries the meaning, while the right-hand component 甫 (fǔ) supplies the sound. This flesh radical situates the character in the semantic field of body parts and animal-derived foods. When pronounced fǔ, it denotes dried or preserved meat, a method of food preservation that relies on removing moisture to inhibit spoilage. When pronounced pǔ, it refers to the human chest or breast area. The character therefore unites an anatomical and a culinary sense within a single form, with the intended meaning clarified by pronunciation and context.

Etymology Hide

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这个果脯很好吃。

Zhège guǒfǔ hěn hǎochī.

This candied fruit is very delicious.

他拍了拍胸脯保证。

Tā pāi le pāi xiōngpú bǎozhèng.

He patted his chest and made a guarantee.

商店里有多种果脯出售。

Shāngdiàn lǐ yǒu duō zhǒng guǒfǔ chūshòu.

There are many kinds of candied fruit for sale in the store.

她用果脯做了甜点。

Tā yòng guǒfǔ zuò le tiándiǎn.

She made dessert using candied fruit.

爷爷的胸脯挺得很直。

Yéye de xiōngpú tǐng de hěn zhí.

Grandpa's chest is held very straight.

这种肉脯来自传统工艺。

Zhè zhǒng ròufǔ lái zì chuántǒng gōngyì.

This type of dried meat comes from traditional craftsmanship.

在宴会上，果脯是常见的零食。

Zài yànhuì shàng, guǒfǔ shì chángjiàn de língshí.

At banquets, candied fruit is a common snack.

经过晾晒，水果变成了美味的果脯。

Jīngguò liàngshài, shuǐguǒ biàn chéng le měiwèi de guǒfǔ.

After sun-drying, the fruit turns into delicious candied fruit.

Related Characters

Component: 月

Component: 甫

脯