仆 pú to fall forward
to fall forward; prostrate; servant
怎么记住“仆”: 亻 person + 卜 fortune teller = to fall forward. The person in line for the fortune teller trips on the carpet and starts to fall forward into her crystal ball.
部件结构
形声 · Meaning + sound
One part gives the meaning, the other gives the sound.
仆 = 亻 person + 卜 fortune teller
- 亻 person meaning
- 卜 fortune teller sound
The person in line for the fortune teller trips on the carpet and starts to fall forward into her crystal ball.
How it came to be
The person gives the meaning and the fortune teller gives the sound.
用法
- A servant: 仆人 (púrén) servant, 公仆 (gōngpú) public servant (a set political term for officials).
- A separate reading pū means to fall forward/prostrate: 前仆后继 (qiánpū-hòujì) one falls, the next steps up, i.e. to press on despite losses.
- Watch the two readings: pú = servant, pū = to fall.