父 Stroke Order — How to Write 父
父 is written in 4 strokes, following the standard Chinese stroke order. Start from the radical 父, then complete the remaining strokes.
Stroke order matters in Chinese: it keeps the character balanced, and it is how dictionaries and handwriting input methods expect a character to be written.
父 Radical and Character Components
父 is an ideographic compound. A hand 乂 holding an axe 八.
Radical: 父 + 0 more strokes
父 Pronunciation and Pinyin
- fù
- fǔ
Meanings of 父 in Chinese
1
fù父
father; one's mother's husband
父子情深。
The bond between father and son runs deep.
A term of address for male elders, such as 'paternal uncle' (伯父), 'maternal uncle' (舅父), or a general term for respected elders (父老).
今天我见到我的伯父，他看起来精神很好。
Today I saw my paternal uncle, and he looked very energetic.
2
fǔ父
Refers to an old man, often used in traditional or respectful contexts such as 'old farmer' (田父) or 'old fisherman' (渔父).
那位渔父熟练地撒网捕鱼。
That old fisherman skillfully cast his net to catch fish.
An archaic or classical usage of '父' (fǔ) as a respectful term for an adult male or an elder, similar to 'sir' or 'gentleman' in ancient contexts, distinct from its common meaning of 'father'.
村中有一父，贤德兼备。
In the village lived a respected elder, possessing both wisdom and virtue.
Common Words and Phrases with 父
1
one's father's generation; male relatives of a senior generation
在春节聚会上，我向父辈们敬酒，表达我的新年祝福。
At the Spring Festival gathering, I toasted my father's generation, expressing my New Year wishes.
2
paternal relatives
在家族聚会上，她总是能感受到父党成员们深厚的关爱和支持。
At family gatherings, she always feels the deep love and support from her paternal relatives.
3
Elders (of a country or district); respected old people in a community.
全村的父老乡亲都聚集在祠堂，共同商议村里的修路事宜。
All the village elders and fellow villagers gathered in the ancestral hall to discuss the road repair matters for the village.
4
5
A traditional term for a local official or magistrate, implying a benevolent leader who cares for the common people like a parent.
那位新上任的县令，深知自己是百姓的父母官，凡事都以民生福祉为重。
The newly appointed county magistrate understood deeply that he was the people's 'parent official,' prioritizing their welfare in all matters.
6
Father
我的父亲是一位慈爱的长者，他总是鼓励我追求自己的梦想。
My father is a kind and loving elder, and he always encourages me to pursue my dreams.
7
Relating to the father's side of the family or tracing descent through the male line; patrilineal.
家族的父系姓氏代代相传。
The family's paternal surname has been passed down through generations.
8
father and elder brothers; elder male family members
他从小就跟随父兄学习打猎和耕种的本领。
Since childhood, he followed his father and elder brother to learn the skills of hunting and farming.
9
father and son
这对父子非常相似，连兴趣爱好都一样。
This pair of father and son are very similar, even their hobbies are the same.
More words with 父
- zǔ祖fù父grandfather
- bó伯fù父father's elder brother
- shén神fù父A Catholic priest.
- gū姑fù父Husband of one's paternal aunt.
- jì继fù父stepfather
- jiào教fù父godfather
- jiù舅fù父mother's brother
- shū叔fù父father's younger brother
- xiān先fù父my deceased father; my late father
- yí姨fù父Husband of one's maternal aunt.
- yú渔fǔ父An old fisherman; a fisher.
- kuā夸fù父Kuafu
- shī师fu父Master
- yuè岳fù父father-in-law
- jì季fù父The youngest paternal uncle.
- qì契fù父adopted father
- tián田fǔ父old farmer
- yà亚fù父Quasi-father, Revered advisor
- zào造fù父Zao Fu, Zao Fu (famous charioteer)
- yǎng养fù父adoptive father, foster father
Idioms with 父
- fù父cí慈zǐ子xiào孝kind father, filial son
- fù父mǔ母zhī之bāng邦one's native land
- fù父yán严zǐ子xiào孝strict father, filial child
- fù父zhài债zǐ子huán还sons repay father's debts
- ēn恩tóng同fù父mǔ母kindness as profound as one's parents
- gàn干fù父zhī之gǔ蛊Carry on father's unfinished work
- jiāng江dōng东fù父lǎo老Elders or people of one's hometown
- kuā夸fù父zhuī追rì日pursue an impossible goal relentlessly
- rèn认zéi贼zuò作fù父treat an enemy as one's father
- yán严fù父cí慈mǔ母stern father, loving mother
- yī衣shí食fù父mǔ母provider of life's basic necessities
- zài再shēng生fù父mǔ母great benefactor
Recommended tools
Bingo Cards
Picture and word Bingo for your class
Open the tool →
Stroke Order Animator
Turn a Chinese character or sentence into a GIF or MP4
Open the tool →
Writing Worksheets
Printable tracing sheets with a QR learning companion
Open the tool →
Character Highlight Animator
Choose character parts and animate their colors, together or in stroke order
Open the tool →Questions about 父
What does 父 mean in Chinese?
父 (fù) means “father” in Chinese.
How do you pronounce 父?
父 has 2 pronunciations: fù, fǔ.
How many strokes does 父 have?
父 has 4 strokes.
How do you write 父?
父 is written in 4 strokes, starting from the radical 父. See the animated stroke order on this page.
What is the radical of 父?
The radical of 父 is 父, and 父 is an ideographic compound.