搀扶 (chān fú) — to support (someone) with one's hand, to help (someone) walk by holding their arm

Definition

搀扶 means physically supporting someone by holding their arm or hand so they can walk — implies direct bodily contact and assistance, often for the elderly, injured, or unsteady.

verb
to support (someone) with one's hand, to help (someone) walk by holding their arm

Examples

  • ，搀扶。
    Lǎo rén zǒu lù bù wěn, ér zi gǎn jǐn shàng qián chān fú zhù tā.
    The old man was unsteady on his feet, so his son quickly stepped forward to support him.
  • 搀扶。
    Tā chān fú zhe shòu shāng de duì yǒu màn màn zǒu xiàng yī wù shì.
    She supported her injured teammate and slowly walked toward the clinic.
  • ，搀扶。
    Zài yōng jǐ de chē shàng, tā zhǔ dòng chān fú qǐ yí wèi yùn fù.
    On the crowded bus, he voluntarily helped a pregnant woman by supporting her.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

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

搀chānsupport
扶fúsupport

搀 and 扶 both mean to support someone, so together they mean help someone walk by holding them.

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 攙; 搀 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
手手shǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
毚
毚chán攙chān
Same sound today

The traditional form 攙 pairs 手 with a sound component, 毚; the simplified 搀 is a later shorthand.

Open 搀 →

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
扌Written in full as手shǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
夫
夫fū扶fú
Same sound today

The left part 扌 is a hand, matching actions like helping or supporting. The right part 夫 gives the sound fū.

Open 扶 →

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