Chinese word

敷

Pronunciation

Pinyinfū

Meaning

  • verbapply

Example

她晚上在脸上敷面膜。tā wǎn shàng zài liǎn shàng fū miàn mó

She applies a face mask to her face at night.

Illustration for 敷 (apply)

More examples

医生在伤口上敷药膏。yī shēng zài shāng kǒu shàng fū yào gāo

The doctor applies ointment to the wound.

Core concept

Material is laid across a surface so the whole area receives its covering or effect.

Common phrases

  • 敷面膜fū miàn mó

    apply a face mask

  • 敷药膏fū yào gāo

    apply ointment

  • 敷伤口fū shāng kǒu

    apply to a wound

Similar words

放fàng: Put something in a particular place or position.
铺pù: Spread material flat across a floor, table, or other surface to cover it.
涂tú: Spread liquid or cream thinly over a surface with a finger or tool.
贴tiē: Press paper, a sticker, or a medicine patch onto a surface so it sticks.

Definition in Chinese

将薄物或药物摊开放在物体表面，使其覆盖并产生保护或药效，常用于敷面膜、敷药或铺垫。jiāng báo wù huò yào wù tān kāi fàng zài wù tǐ biǎo miàn shǐ qí fù gài bìng chǎn shēng bǎo hù huò yào xiào cháng yòng yú fū miàn mó fū yào huò pū diàn

Word origin

The older physical sense of 敷 (fū, "apply") is to spread something across a surface, which gives the later treatment sense a clear connection to coverings and medicine.

Usage tips

  • In everyday speech, this verb is especially useful for treatments that remain on the skin for a while rather than substances rubbed in and removed at once.

Other meanings

  • spreadverb
  • layverb

Opposites

  • 取下qǔ xiàremoveverb
  • 撕下sī xiàtear offverb

Related words

  • 敷料fū liàodressingnoun
  • 敷设fū shèlayverb

Word lists with this word