TongTong
Sign in

抚慰 (fǔ wèi) — to comfort, to console, to soothe

Definition

A formal/literary verb meaning 'to comfort, soothe' an injured heart, grief, or emotions — written in tone rather than casual speech. It focuses on easing emotional pain, not everyday consolation like 安慰.

verb
to comfortto consoleto soothe

Examples

  • 抚慰。
    Tā qīng qīng de fǔ wèi zhe kū qì de hái zi.
    She gently comforted the crying child.
  • 抚慰。
    Péng you de huà fǔ wèi le wǒ shòu shāng de xīn.
    My friend's words soothed my wounded heart.
  • 抚慰。
    Yīn yuè néng fǔ wèi rén de qíng xù.
    Music can console people's emotions.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

抚fǔsoothe
慰wèicomfort

抚 and 慰 both mean to soothe or comfort, so the word emphasizes gentle consolation.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 撫; 抚 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
手手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
無
無wú撫fǔ
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 撫 pairs 手 (hand) with 無 for the sound; the simplified 抚 is a later shorthand, so its parts are not the historical parts.

Open 抚 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
心心xīn
Sound part声符shēngfú
尉
尉wèi慰⁰wèi
Same sound today

慰 puts 心 (heart) beside 尉 to show a feeling of comfort, while 尉 gives the sound.

Open 慰 →
Appears in
Emotions & Feelings

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.