斧 meaning and stroke order
Axe, hatchet; to chop, to hew
How to write 斧, stroke by stroke
8 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
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- 7
- 8
Meaning of 斧
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- hatchet
How 斧 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Axe.
斤 gives the meaning and 父 hints at the sound.
Radical: 斤 (a catty (about 500 grams)), shared by 12 characters on this site.
How to remember 斧
斧 is built from 父 (fù, father) on top of 斤 (jīn, an old picture of an axe). Picture a father lifting an axe over a pile of wood, and 父 also gives the sound fǔ.
On its own 斧 is mostly found in written or set phrases. In everyday speech people say 斧子 (fǔzi) or 斧头 (fǔtóu). Example: 他用斧头砍柴。(Tā yòng fǔtóu kǎn chái.) He chops firewood with an axe.
Common mistake: Learners often read 斧 as fù because of the 父 on top, but the tone is third tone, fǔ. Also avoid confusing it with 斤 (jīn) alone, which today usually means a unit of weight, not an axe.
Common words with 斧
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
斧 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 斧
How many strokes are in 斧?
斧 is written with 8 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 斧 mean?
斧 (fǔ) means axe, hatchet; to chop, to hew. A common word with it is 斧子 (fǔzi), meaning "axe; hatchet".
How do you pronounce 斧?
斧 is pronounced fǔ, in the third tone (dipping).
What is the radical of 斧?
The radical of 斧 is 斤, which carries the idea of "a catty (about 500 grams)". Dictionaries list 斧 under this radical.
Is 斧 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 斧 is part of the HSK 7-9 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard.
What is the difference between 斧子 and 斧头?
Both mean axe or hatchet and are used in daily speech. 斧头 is very common everywhere. 斧子 is also widely used, especially in northern speech.
What does the idiom 班门弄斧 mean?
班门弄斧 (bān mén nòng fǔ) means swinging an axe at the door of Lu Ban, the legendary master carpenter. It describes showing off your small skill in front of an expert, and people often use it modestly about themselves.