父
The 父 radical
Father
Memory hook
A hand gripping a stone axe — the man who does the heavy work of the household: 父亲 (father), 爸爸 (dad), 爷爷 (grandfather).
The 父 radical (read fù) means father. The HSK 3.0 data contains 4 characters and 14 words built on it — learning them together is far faster than one character at a time.
Practise the 父 radical
Study this radical's 14 words with flashcards or a quiz.
Characters with the 父 radical
4 charactersHSK 1· 2 characters
HSK 1爷
grandfather (father's father)
爸
dad
HSK 3· 1 characters
HSK 3父
father
HSK 7-9· 1 characters
HSK 7-9爹
dad, father (an affectionate term, often used in dialects)
Vocabulary with the 父 radical
14 wordsWords containing at least one character with the 父 radical, ordered by HSK level.
grandfather (father's father)
dad, father
father
parents
old gentleman, elderly man (a respectful term)
master, skilled craftsman
father and daughter
father and son
paternal grandfather
uncle (father's older brother).
maternal grandfather
father-in-law (wife's father)
dad, father (an affectionate term, often used in dialects)
stepfather
Why learn vocabulary by the 父 radical?
The 父 radical hints at the meaning father. When you meet an unfamiliar character carrying it, you already know part of its meaning before reaching for a dictionary — which is why learners who know their radicals move faster.
How to study: read the memory hook, skim the 4 characters to spot the pattern, then drill the 14 words with flashcards. Spaced repetition brings each word back exactly when you need it.