負 (fù) - Meaning, Stroke Order & Audio

負

fù[fu4]Tone 4

to bear, to carry, negative

HSK 3

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负

Guru Deep Dive

English · to bear, to carry, negative

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Topology:Top-bottom

Strokes:9

Writing Balance Rule: The top component (刀) should be compact and centered, while the bottom component (贝) should be wide and stable to support the entire weight of the character.

Simplification Logic: The traditional form 負 is composed of 𠂊 (variant of 人) over 二 and 貝. In the simplified form 负, the top part is simplified to 𠂉 and the bottom 貝 becomes 贝.

1. Meaning

to bear or carry on the back

to shoulder responsibilityto suffer or incur (defeat, losses)negative value in math or finance

Verb / AdjectiveNeutral#actions#weights#mathematics#emotions

Sample Usage

他负伤了。
Tā fùshāng le.
He sustained injuries.
负数
fùshù
negative number

2. Sound

/[fu⁵¹]/Tone: 51

負

fùfu4

`(51)

=fù

Initial Consonant

Type: Labiodental Fricative

Sounds like: f sound in English 'for'

Unaspirated

Airflow Tactile Test: Continuous smooth friction.

Tongue & Mouth Position: Bring your top teeth gently down onto your lower lip and blow air continuously.

Final Rhyme

Vowel Group: -u vowel group

Sounds like: oo sound in 'boot'

Mouth Shape Guide: Pronounce as standalone vowel 'oo'.

Common Learner Trap: Keep vowel quality steady across all 4 tone contours.

Tone

T4 (51)

5 → 1 (51)

4th Tone (High-Falling)

Tone Pitch & Cadence: Tone 4 starts at the top of your vocal range and drops sharply to the bottom, matching an angry command or a firm 'No!'

👂

Listening trap: Confusing the 4th tone (fù) with the 2nd tone (fú). Remember that tone 4 starts high and drops immediately.

👋

Physical Tone Gesture: A sharp, definitive chop downward with your hand, like slamming a heavy load onto the ground.

3. Writing

Topology: Top-bottom · Strokes: 9 strokes

Writing Balance Rule: The top component (刀) should be compact and centered, while the bottom component (贝) should be wide and stable to support the entire weight of the character.

4. Components

Radical 贝 · Shell / Money radical (wealth, value, or currency)

Semantic Clue (形旁): 贝 (Indicates value, debt, or financial burden.)

A person stands at the top (𠂉) carrying a valuable shell or currency (贝) on their back, representing the burden of debt or carrying a heavy financial load.

𠂉 Person bending over
贝 Shell / money / wealth

5. History

Liushu category: Phono-semantic (形声)

Origin: Originally depicted a person (人) carrying a shell or treasure (贝) on their back, evolving to mean bearing responsibilities, carrying items, and later taking on financial debts or negative balances.

Semantic Evolution: From physically carrying loads on the back to shouldering abstract responsibilities, suffering losses, and representing mathematical negative values.

In ancient China, cowrie shells (贝) served as currency, so carrying shells often implied financial obligations or debt.

6. Sinosphere

🇯🇵

Kanji (Japanese)

On: フ / Kun: 負.う, まけ.る

🇰🇷

Hanja (Korean)

부

7. Memory

Vivid Mnemonic Story

A person bends over (𠂉) because they are carrying a heavy pile of money and valuable shells (贝) on their back, feeling very negative and defeated under the weight.

Phonetic Family (形声字家族)

妇

fùwoman / wifeReplaces the bottom shell (贝) with woman (女), representing a married woman.

Lookalikes & Traps (形近字)

妇(fù)

负 has 'shell/money' (贝) at the bottom (carrying a financial burden); 妇 has 'woman' (女) at the right.

8. Mastery

Active Recall Challenge

這場比賽我們[___]了。

Clue: fù

Common Learner Pitfall

Confusing 负 (fù) with 覆 (fù - to overturn) or confusing its tone with rising tones.

Memory Prompts

Recognition: When you see 负, what core physical and financial meanings come to mind?

Production: How do you write the character meaning 'negative' or 'to bear' in Mandarin?

負fùto bear, to carry, negative

Speed:

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