fu2俯
Jyutpingfu2
Yalefú
Definition
To bend forward, bow, or look down.
neutralbodydaily actions
How it's used
Used primarily in formal contexts or as part of compound words, while everyday speech prefers the more descriptive 烏低. It carries a sense of deliberate or formal bowing, often seen in literary descriptions or specific physical postures. You will rarely hear it used alone in casual conversation without a directional complement like 低.
Examples
He bent down to pick up the keys he dropped on the floor.
Remember to lower your head when exercising, don't overexert yourself.
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse it with 烏低, which is the standard colloquial way to describe bending over or lowering one's head. Using 俯 in casual settings can sound overly stiff or like you are reading from a book.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
