Learn Chinese Characters

Meaning

father

Chinese: 父亲。

Hear the Four Tones

The same syllable “fu” becomes a different word in each tone. 父 is the 4th tone. Tap any tone to hear a native voice and see its pitch shape.

Stroke Order

Tap Animate to watch the strokes in order, or Practice to trace it yourself.

Common Words

  • 父亲fù qīnfather
  • 父母fù mǔfather and mother; parents
  • 父子fù zǐfather and son
  • 父女fù nǚfather and daughter
  • 师父shī fuused for 师傅 (in Taiwan); master; qualified worker

Example Sentence

我的父亲是一位老师。Wǒ de fù qīn shì yí wèi lǎo shī.My father is a teacher.

Ideof父亲fù qīnfathershìisonewèiposition老师lǎo shīteacher

Go deeper

Where this character comes from

A hand holding a stick or stone axe — the one who wields authority and provides for the family: ‘father’.

A way to remember it

A hand raising a tool — the father in charge.

Easy to confuse with

  • ‘Dad’: 父 (father) on top giving the meaning, 巴 below giving the sound.