夫 Stroke Order — How to Write 夫
夫 is written in 4 strokes, following the standard Chinese stroke order. Start from the radical 大, 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.
夫 Radical and Character Components
夫 is an ideographic compound. A man 大 wearing a coming-of-age hairpin 一.
Radical: 大 + 1 more stroke
夫 Pronunciation and Pinyin
- fū
- fú
Meanings of 夫 in Chinese
1
fū夫
An old term for an adult man, often referring to an occupation (e.g., fisherman, peasant) or a man possessing specific qualities, especially bravery.
老渔夫驾着小船出海捕鱼。
The old fisherman sailed his small boat out to sea to fish.
In former times, a laborer or one conscripted for forced labor.
那个村子里的许多男子被强行拉去做了夫役。
Many men in that village were forcibly conscripted to do corvée labor.
An archaic term for a scholar or teacher, also historically used by a wife to refer to her husband, or sometimes derisively for someone with outdated ideas.
这位夫子学识渊博，深受学生敬重。
This scholar is profoundly learned and highly respected by students.
Husband, a married man; or as part of a married couple.
我的丈夫很爱我。
My husband loves me very much.
2
fú夫
An initial particle in classical Chinese, used to introduce a general statement or explanation. Often equivalent to "Now then," or "As for."
夫学问者，博大精深
Now then, as for knowledge, it is vast and profound.
An auxiliary particle in classical Chinese, often placed at the end of a sentence to express exclamation, emphasis, or a sigh, similar to 'indeed' or 'ah'.
乐哉，游园夫！
How delightful it is to wander in the garden!
In classical Chinese, '夫' (fú) is a demonstrative pronoun equivalent to 'this' or 'that'.
夫水清冽
That water is clear and cold.
Common Words and Phrases with 夫
1
Husband initiates, wife follows; describing a harmonious and cooperative marital relationship.
他们夫妻俩一直夫倡妇随，共同打理家庭事务，生活过得温馨而充实。
They have always embodied 'husband initiates, wife follows', managing household affairs together, and leading a warm and fulfilling life.
2
An archaic and respectful term for 'husband', often used by a wife.
夫君，您回来了，妾身已为您备好晚饭。
My dear husband, you have returned. I have already prepared dinner for you.
3
Husband and wife; a married couple.
他们是一对恩爱的夫妻，彼此扶持
They are a loving couple, supporting each other.
4
a small shop or business run by a husband and wife
这家温馨的面包店就是典型的夫妻店，老板夫妇每天清晨就开始忙碌，为顾客提供新鲜出炉的面包和糕点。
This cozy bakery is a typical mom-and-pop shop; the owner couple starts working early every morning to provide customers with freshly baked bread and pastries.
5
Husband's authority over his wife; patriarchal power.
在旧时，夫权是家庭中普遍存在的现象，妻子通常需要服从丈夫的意愿。
In ancient times, husband's authority was a common phenomenon in families, and wives typically had to obey their husbands' wishes.
6
A respectful term for 'Lady' or 'Mrs.', often used for someone's wife in formal or diplomatic contexts. Historically, it also referred to the wife of a feudal lord or a noblewoman.
请问，您是王先生的夫人吗？
Excuse me, are you Mr. Wang's wife?
7
A respectful title for a scholar or teacher, especially Confucius. It could also refer to one's husband in ancient times.
学生们恭敬地向夫子行礼，聆听他的教诲。
The students respectfully bowed to the Master and listened to his teachings.
More words with 夫
- chuán船fū夫boatman
- yú渔fū夫fisherman
- chē车fū夫coachman, driver
- fán凡fū夫ordinary person; common mortal
- gēng更fū夫watchman, night watchman
- gū姑fū夫paternal aunt's husband
- guān鳏fū夫widower
- huǒ伙fū夫mess cook
- jiào轿fū夫sedan-chair carrier
- jiě姐fū夫brother-in-law
- pīn姘fū夫paramour, lover
- qíng情fū夫lover, paramour
- jiǎo脚fū夫porter
- nóng农fū夫farmer
- pǐ匹fū夫common man, ordinary person
- qiān千fū夫a thousand men
- tiāo挑fū夫Porter
- qiàn纤fū夫boat-tracker
- zhàng丈fu夫husband
- qiáo樵fū夫woodcutter
Idioms with 夫
- fū夫chàng唱fù妇suí随harmonious marital relationship
- fū夫fù妇fǎn反mù目Husband and wife turn hostile
- fū夫qī妻fǎn反mù目married couple quarreling or estranged
- fū夫rén人qún裙dài带ride on wife's coattails
- fū夫róng荣qī妻guì贵Husband's honor elevates wife's status
- fū夫zǐ子zì自dào道criticizing others while guilty of the same fault
- bì婢xué学fū夫ren人awkward imitation of a superior
- chái柴mǐ米fū夫qī妻a humble couple focused on daily necessities
- cūn村fū夫sú俗zǐ子uncouth, uncultured, vulgar person
- cūn村fū夫yě野lǎo老village peasants and rustic elders
- cūn村yě野pǐ匹fū夫uncultured rustic commoner
- dì第yī一fū夫rén人First Lady
Recommended tools
Bingo Cards
Picture and word Bingo for your class
Open the tool →
Picture Worksheets
Chinese and English fill-in vocabulary worksheets
Open the tool →
Writing Worksheets
Printable tracing sheets with a QR learning companion
Open the tool →
Stroke Order Animator
Turn a Chinese character or sentence into a GIF or MP4
Open the tool →Questions about 夫
What does 夫 mean in Chinese?
夫 (fū) means “An old term for an adult man” in Chinese.
How do you pronounce 夫?
夫 has 2 pronunciations: fū, fú.
How many strokes does 夫 have?
夫 has 4 strokes.
How do you write 夫?
夫 is written in 4 strokes, starting from the radical 大. See the animated stroke order on this page.
What is the radical of 夫?
The radical of 夫 is 大, and 夫 is an ideographic compound.