Writing Balance Rule: The left component (父) is narrower and slightly raised, while the right component (斤) is broader and anchors the baseline of the character.
1. Meaning
hatchet, axe
to chop or hew with an axeliterary term for cutting down timber
NounNeutral#tools#hardware#forestry
Sample Usage
他手里拿着一把斧子。
Tā shǒu lǐ názhe yī bǎ fǔzi.
He is holding a hatchet in his hand.
砍柴需要斧头。
Kǎn chái xūyào fǔtóu.
ChOPping firewood requires an axe.
2. Sound
/[fu²¹⁴]/Tone: 214
斧
fǔfu3
|
++
ˇ(214)
=fǔ
Build the syllable
Step-by-step blending
fu
Tone mark placement: Tone mark sits on "u" per main-vowel priority (a > e > o; in -iu/-ui the mark takes the second vowel).
Initial Consonant
f
Type: Labiodental Fricative
Sounds like: f sound like in English 'four'
Unaspirated
Airflow Tactile Test: Continuous smooth friction.
Tongue & Mouth Position: Bring your upper teeth gently down onto your lower lip to let air pass through the friction.
Final Rhyme
u
Vowel Group: -u vowel group
Sounds like: u rhymes with oo in 'boot'
Mouth Shape Guide: Pronounce as standalone vowel 'oo'.
Common Learner Trap: Keep vowel quality steady across all 4 tone contours.
Tone
T3 (214)
2 → 1 → 4 (214)
3rd Tone (Low-Dipping)
Tone Pitch & Cadence: Tone 3 dips low and rises, just like asking 'Really?' in English disbelief.
Sandhi: When followed by another 3rd tone, fǔ changes to a 2nd tone (rising 35), e.g., 斧子 fǔzi becomes fúzi.
👂
Listening trap: Do not confuse the sound with the 4th tone fù (falling pitch), which sounds sharper and more abrupt.
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Physical Tone Gesture: Start at a medium-low pitch, dip down toward your chest, and then glide your hand back up into the air, mirroring a checkmark shape.
3. Writing
Topology: Left-right · Strokes: 8 strokes
Writing Balance Rule: The left component (父) is narrower and slightly raised, while the right component (斤) is broader and anchors the baseline of the character.
4. Components
Radical斤 · Axe Radical (axe, catty (weight unit))
Semantic Clue (形旁):斤 (Provides the semantic meaning of an axe or chopping tool.)
The character combines the father component (父) on the left, which gives the sound, with the axe radical (斤) on the right, which provides the physical meaning of a tool.
父 Phonetic and structural component meaning father
斤 Semantic axe tool radical
Phonetic Family (形声字家族)
3· Phonetic Root: 父 (fù)
5. History
Liushu category: Phono-semantic (形声)
Origin: Originally depicted through the combination of an axe tool symbol (斤) alongside a phonetic indicator (父) representing a heavy striking instrument used since ancient times.
Semantic Evolution: From ancient bronze weapons and woodworking axes to the modern tool used for chopping wood and general hatchet work.
Axes in ancient China served both as brutal execution weapons and essential everyday carpentry tools.
6. Sinosphere
🇯🇵
Kanji (Japanese)
On: フ (fu) / Kun: おの (ono)
🇰🇷
Hanja (Korean)
부
Sound Shift Bridge: The initial 'f' and vowel 'u' show strong phonetic preservation across related forms.
7. Memory
Vivid Mnemonic Story
Your FATHER (父) goes out into the forest carrying a heavy AXE (斤) to chop firewood.