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爱抚 (ài fǔ) — (formal) to caress, to stroke gently (physically); (formal) to show tender care for, to nurture affectionately (emotionally)

Definition

Formal verb meaning 'to caress or show tender care' — covers both physical stroking and emotional nurturing. Written/literary in tone; everyday speech prefers simpler verbs like 摸.

verb
(formal) to caressto stroke gently (physically)(formal) to show tender care forto nurture affectionately (emotionally)

Examples

  • 爱抚。
    Mā ma qīng qīng de ài fǔ zhe hái zi de tóu fa.
    Mom gently caressed the child's hair.
  • 爱抚。
    Tā yòng wēn róu de mù guāng ài fǔ zhe tā.
    He caressed her with a tender gaze.
  • 爱抚。
    Nà wèi hù shi zǒng shì xì xīn de ài fǔ bìng rén de qíng xù.
    That nurse always carefully shows tender care for the patient's feelings.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

爱àilove
抚fǔstroke/soothe

爱 expresses affection and 抚 expresses gentle soothing, together meaning tender care.

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 愛; 爱 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
心心xīnheart
Sound part声符shēngfú
旡
旡jì愛ài
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

For the traditional form 愛, an older shape paired 心 (heart) with 旡 as its sound part; later a foot-like 夊 was added below. The simplified 爱 is a later variant that replaces the lower part with 友.

Open 爱 →

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 →
Appears in
Emotions & Feelings

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