甫 (fǔ) — (literary, formal) just, only
Definition
Literary adverb meaning 'just, only, barely' — used in formal or classical-style writing (often after a time word, as in 甫到 'just arrived'). Not used in everyday spoken Chinese.
adverb
(literary, formal) justonly
Easily confused
- 浦pǔlook-alikewater's edge, river mouth (in place names)
- 父fǔsound-alike(bound form, literary) old man, elder (in respectful compounds)
- 捕bǔlook-aliketo catch, to capture
- 府fǔsound-alike(bound form) seat of government; government office
- 莆púlook-alike(bound form) abbreviation for Putian (city in Fujian)
- 辅fǔsound-alike(bound form) to assist, to aid, to complement
Examples
- 甫，。fǔ Dào shàng hǎi, tā jiù qù bài fǎng lǎo péng you.As soon as he arrived in Shanghai, he went to visit old friends.
- 甫，。Cǐ shì fǔ jīng shāng yì, biàn yǐ jué dìng.This matter was just discussed and then decided.
- 甫，。Guó jiā fǔ dìng, bǎi fèi dài xīng.The country had just been stabilized, and a thousand things waited to be done.
Origin
Compound ideograph六书liùshū
会意huìyìTwo or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.
- 屮屮chèvegetation
- 田田tiánfield
The early form 甫 showed 屮 (vegetation) in 田 (field), a garden. Its parts later changed and merged into the modern shape.
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