What is the main usage of 拊?

拊 primarily means to pat, stroke, or clap gently, often used in classical or literary contexts to describe comforting gestures or rhythmic beating.

Is 拊 commonly used in modern Chinese?

No, 拊 is considered a classical character and is rarely used in everyday modern Chinese. It appears mainly in literary works, historical texts, and idioms.

How is 拊 different from 拍?

While both can mean to pat or clap, 拊 implies a gentler, more comforting action, while 拍 is more general and commonly used in modern speech.

拊Tone 3

fǔ ｜ 8 strokes ｜ radical: 扌

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拊 · fǔ

to pat;

to stroke;

to clap;

to slap gently;

to beat (a drum)

to patto stroketo clap

Usage highlights

to pat the chestto clap handsto beat a drumto stroke one's backto pat and sighto comfort by patting

Synonyms

拍— to pat, to clap
抚— to stroke, to comfort
击— to beat, to strike

Antonyms

捶— to pound, to beat heavily
打— to hit, to strike

Usage & contexts

Examples

The mother patted the child's back (拊背).
He clapped his hands in delight (拊掌).
The musician beat the drum rhythmically (拊鼓).

Collocations

to pat the chest(拊膺)
to clap hands(拊手)
to beat a drum(拊鼓)
to stroke one's back(拊背)
to pat and sigh(拊髀)
to comfort by patting(拊循)

Idioms

Slap the table and sigh(拊案叹息)
Pat the chest and stamp the feet(拊膺顿足)
Clap hands and laugh(拊掌大笑)

Cultural background

FAQ

Used in classical Chinese texts to describe gentle physical gestures of comfort, encouragement, or musical rhythm.
Appears in historical and literary contexts, often describing emotional expressions or musical performance.

拊 (fǔ) - to pat & to stroke