覆 meaning and stroke order
To cover; to overturn; to repeat; to reply
How to write 覆, stroke by stroke
18 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
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Meaning of 覆
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to cover
- to overflow
- to overturn
- to capsize
How 覆 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Cover.
覀 gives the meaning and 復 hints at the sound.
Radical: 覀 (west), shared by 6 characters on this site.
How to remember 覆
The top part 覀 looks like a lid with the meaning hint "cover," and 復 (fù) below gives the sound. Picture a lid placed over something, or flipped upside down, and you have 覆 (fù): to cover or to overturn.
覆 is mostly found in compound words and idioms rather than alone. The most common word is 覆盖 (fùgài), meaning to cover, as in 雪覆盖了山顶。(Xuě fùgài le shāndǐng.) Snow covered the mountaintop.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 覆 with 復 and 复, which share the sound fù. 回覆 and 回复 (huífù, to reply) are both seen, but 复 is the standard form in mainland simplified Chinese, while 覆 is required in 覆盖 and 颠覆. Also, the top is 覀 with a flat bottom stroke, not 西.
Common words with 覆
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 覆盖 | fùgài | to cover | HSK 7-9 |
| 颠覆 | diānfù | to topple (i.e. knock over); to capsize | HSK 7-9 |
| 翻天覆地 | fāntiān-fùdì | sky and the earth turning upside down (idiom); fig. complete confusion; everything turned | HSK 7-9 |
| 翻来覆去 | fānlái-fùqù | to toss and turn (sleeplessly); again and again | HSK 7-9 |
| 回覆 | huífù | to reply (by letter, email etc); reply; answer | |
| 重蹈覆辙 | chóngdǎofùzhé | lit. to follow in the tracks of an overturned cart (idiom); fig. to follow a path that led | |
| 天翻地覆 | tiānfāndìfù | sky and the earth turning upside down (idiom); fig. complete confusion; everything turned | |
| 全军覆没 | quánjūnfùmò | total defeat of an army (idiom); fig. a complete wipeout |
覆 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 覆
How many strokes are in 覆?
覆 is written with 18 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 覆 mean?
覆 (fù) means to cover; to overturn; to repeat; to reply. A common word with it is 覆盖 (fùgài), meaning "to cover".
How do you pronounce 覆?
覆 is pronounced fù, in the fourth tone (falling).
What is the radical of 覆?
The radical of 覆 is 覀, which carries the idea of "west". Dictionaries list 覆 under this radical.
What is the simplified form of 覆?
覆 is a traditional character. Its simplified form is 复, used in mainland China and Singapore.
Is 覆 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 覆 is part of the HSK 7-9 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard.
What does 翻来覆去 mean?
翻来覆去 (fānlái-fùqù) literally means turning over and back again. It describes tossing and turning in bed when you cannot sleep, and it can also mean doing or saying something again and again.
What does 重蹈覆辙 mean and when is it used?
重蹈覆辙 (chóngdǎofùzhé) literally means to follow the tracks of a cart that overturned. It is used to warn someone not to repeat a past mistake, for example 我们不能重蹈覆辙。(Wǒmen bù néng chóngdǎofùzhé.) We must not repeat the same mistake.