on1 fu2安撫安抚
Jyutpingon1 fu2
Yaleōn fú
Definition
To appease, pacify, or calm someone down when they are unhappy, anxious, or distressed.
neutralemotionpeople
How it's used
Focuses on the active effort to soothe someone's distress or agitation, often implying a position of authority or a closer relationship. It is frequently used in professional or formal contexts, such as customer service or crisis management, but remains perfectly natural in daily life when someone is visibly upset.
Examples
How did you go about pacifying that unhappy customer?
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this word for inanimate objects or general situations, as it specifically targets human emotions. For calming down a general situation or a chaotic scene, 處理 or 平息 are more appropriate choices.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
