护符 (hù fú) — amulet, protective charm

Definition

A protective charm or amulet worn or carried for personal protection from harm or evil. The measure word is 个, as for most small objects.

noun

amuletprotective charm

Measure word · 个

护符，。
Tā suí shēn dài zhe yí gè hù fú, yǐ qiú píng ān.
She carries an amulet with her for safety.
护符。
Zhè ge hù fú jù shuō néng qū xié bì zāi.
This protective charm is said to ward off evil and avoid disaster.
护符。
Tā zài miào lǐ mǎi le yí gè hù fú guà zài bó zi shàng.
He bought an amulet at the temple and hung it around his neck.

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

护hùprotect

符fútalisman

护 (protect) and 符 (talisman) form a protective charm.

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.

扌户护

Meaning part形符xíngfú

扌Written in full as手shǒu

Sound part声符shēngfú

户

Same sound today

护 combines 扌 (the hand form 手) with 户, which gives the sound hù.

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

𥫗付符

Meaning part形符xíngfú

𥫗Written in full as竹zhúbamboo

Sound part声符shēngfú

付

Same sound today

符 puts the bamboo form 竹, written 𥫗 on top, above 付, which gives the sound.

Appears in