父亲
父father亲close family member=father
父
父 (fù) Chinese Character: father
The old hand-and-tool shape introduces the formal family word 父, father.
Practice 父 in the interactive lessonChinese character story: A Hand Holding a Tool
父 (fù) means “father.” In everyday speech, 爸爸 is more common, while 父 appears in useful words such as 父亲, “father,” 父母, “parents,” and 祖父, “grandfather.” Learn it as a family word rather than treating the old tool shape as a modern picture equation.
🧩 Word buildingSee what every part contributes
Chinese words often combine short meaning clues. Fixed expressions are clearly marked so you do not translate them too literally.
父母
父father母mother=parents
Chinese character origin and etymology
Early forms of 父 show a hand holding a stick or tool. The character came to name a father and, in some words, an older male relative.
Four crossing strokes preserve the compact outline of an early hand-and-tool form. 父 works as one complete form rather than a puzzle made from smaller modern components. Learning its overall silhouette is useful because the same shape may later appear inside more complex characters.
Chinese character stroke order and structure
父 is written with 4 strokes. Learn the complete stroke sequence in the interactive lesson, then write the character from memory before checking your answer.
- 父 — father — a foundational form used as one complete character
Common usage and sentence patterns
The examples below show 父 in complete beginner-friendly sentences. Read each sentence aloud, notice where the character appears, and then replace one noun or number to create a new sentence of your own.
我的父亲是老师。
My father is a teacher.
父母都爱孩子。
Parents love their children.
他和父亲一起回家。
He goes home with his father.
What is the Chinese character for father?
The Chinese character 父 (fù) means “father,” but it is mainly used in formal language and compound words. 父亲 (fùqin) is a formal word for father, and 父母 (fùmǔ) means “parents.”
In everyday conversation, speakers usually say 爸爸 (bàba), similar to “dad.” Learning both forms helps you understand the difference between a basic character meaning and the word people most often choose in daily speech. Compare family terms in the Chinese family characters guide.
Learning tips for 父
Learn the reading as one unit: fù, with the fourth tone: a sharp fall. Avoid memorizing the letters without the tone mark. Say the syllable, recall the English meaning “father,” and write the 4 strokes from memory.
Because 父 is a basic form, focus on its proportions and stroke direction. Compare it with 母 (mǔ, mother); 人 (rén, person). Similar characters are easier to remember when their different parts and meanings are studied side by side.
Quick review checklist
- Can you recognize 父 without pinyin?
- Can you say fù with the correct tone and explain “father”?
- Can you write all 4 strokes in order?
- Can you use 父 in one short sentence?
Related characters
Learn 父 in a themed collection
Compare this character with related beginner words. A themed path helps you notice useful pairs, word-building patterns, and everyday contexts.
Continue learning Chinese characters
Use the Chinese radicals and components guide to understand reusable parts, the stroke order guide to improve handwriting, and the HSK 1 character overview to choose your next beginner lesson.
Sources and editorial note
HanziStory separates documented character history from modern memory stories. Historical-form images are shown only when a matching source file is available; missing stages are skipped rather than invented. Stroke practice uses HanziWriter data.
Last updated: August 16, 2026. Read our sources, editorial method, and correction policy.