Taxonomy of meanings for 撫:　　

  • 撫 fǔ (OC: mhaʔ MC: pʰio) 芳武切 上 廣韻：【同撫 】
  • 撫 fǔ (OC: mʰaʔ MC: pʰio) 芳武切 上 廣韻：【安存也又持也循也芳武切十三 】
    • CARESS
      • vtoNcaress; soothe
      • vtoNfigurativetreat gently
    • CONSOLE
      • vtoNpacify, console
    • GOVERN
      • vtoNto pacify, bring peace to, look well after the concerns of; euphemistic for "subjugate"
    • PLUCK STRINGS
      • vtoNpluck (a lute)
    • TAKE
      • vtoNnudge; reach for; reach for (so as to drink)
    • TOUCH
      • vtoNpat (the back of a horse); touch (the elbow of a person etc)
      • vtoNrun one's hand over, touch so as to smooth outCH
  • fǔREACH
    • vtoNderivedreach out to N intellectuallyCH

Additional information about 撫

說文解字:

    Criteria
  • CRUEL

    1. The current general word for psychological cruelty is rěn 忍 (ant. cí 慈 "show kind loving concern"), and the current general word for cruelty in action is cán 殘 (ant. rén 仁 "kind-heartedness").

    2. NŸè 虐 (ant. fǔ 撫 "take good care of, show proper concern for subordinates or subjects") refers to wanton cruelty in the exercise of political authority.

    3. Lì 戾 typically refers to deliberate cruelty for its own sake, typically by those in political authority, viewed as a political mistake. See SEVERE

    4. Bào 暴 refers to a propensity towards public violence by those in authority, viewed as a character defect. See VIOLENT

  • CONSOLE

    1. The most general word for comforting someone is probably the rather rare wèi 慰.

    2. Diào 弔 / 吊 (ant. hè 賀 "congratulate on a felicitous occasion") refers to condolence in the presence of the body of the deceased, and the word has a special meaning "mourn the death of" where it takes the deceased as the grammatical object.

    3. Yàn 唁 refers to any condolence visit to the family of someone who has suffered a serious misfortune of any kind, including bereavement or loss of a state.

    4. Suī 綏 refers to offering comfort to an individual or a group that is in some form of trouble, and the subject is typically a person in authority.

    5. Fǔ 撫 focusses on soothing and caring action conducive to peace and security by a person in authority, and there is no implication of relief from intense suffering.

    6. Wèn 問 refers more generally to paying a visit to someone on the occasion of a case of illness etc..

    7. Lào 勞 refers to giving comfort to those who are exhausted after a worthy effort.

  • OPPRESS

    1. The most common general word for oppression is probably nŸè 虐 (ant. cí 慈 "show loving care for").

    2. Bào 暴 (ant. fǔ 撫 "care well for") emphasises the aspect of violence.

    3. Líng 陵 (ant. yù 育 "take loving care of", and the rare jí 藉, and chéng 乘 emphasise the abuse of supremacy of social or political position.

    Word relations
  • Result: (TOUCH)止/STOP The standard current word for ceasing in an activity is zhǐ 止 (ant. xíng 行 "carry on with"), and this word can to any concrete or abstract activity; the ceasing may be final or temporary.
  • Object: (PLUCK STRINGS)琴/STRING INSTRUMENTS The most current musical instrument in ancient China is the qín 琴﹣lute which generally had seven strings. This instrument is played with both hands. With one's left hand one holds down the strings while one plucks with one's right hand.
  • Assoc: (CONSOLE)慰/CONSOLE The most general word for comforting someone is probably the rather rare wèi 慰.