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輻 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
輻fúray, spokex, 16 strokes, radical 車
fú(fu2) T2
  1. 1ray, spoke
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

輻fú(fu2)

The character 輻 (fú) primarily means 'ray' or 'spoke', often in the context of a wheel or a radiating line. It is commonly used in technical language related to mechanics or physics, as well as in discussions about light. The character conveys the idea of something extending outward from a central point.

Strokes16Radical車
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of 輻 connects to the traditional use of wheels in transport, especially in rural areas where bicycles and carts are common. The relationship between spokes and movement is significant in both technology and daily life.

Memory Tip

Imagine a wheel with spokes radiating outwards, like rays of sunlight. The character 輻 has a 'wheel' component (车) at the bottom, which helps remind you that it relates to spokes, while 'fú' can sound like 'fu'-ture rays spreading out.

Meanings of 輻

fú(fu2)
1ray, spoke
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 輻

輻Simplified
16Strokes
車Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 輻

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Podcast: 輻

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AI Study Notes for 輻

Usage Notes

In formal contexts, 輻 is often used in scientific or technical discussions. Common collocations include 輻射 (fúshè, radiation) and 輻輪 (fúlún, spoke of a wheel). Be careful with the tone; the first tone can make it sound like 'to bless' (福 fú) instead.

HSK Study Tips

Though 輻 is not in the HSK vocabulary lists, it can be connected to HSK level characters dealing with transportation and movement. Students should practice recognizing the wheel component (车) in other characters to enhance their understanding.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 輻 with 福 (fú), which means 'blessing' or 'good fortune'. For example, saying '我喜欢福' (I like rays) instead of '我喜欢辐' (I like spokes) can lead to confusion.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 輻

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Etymology of 輻

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 车 represents the meaning and 畐 represents the sound. Simplified form of 輻.

Memory Hint

wheel

Semantic (meaning)車
+
Phonetic (sound)畐
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 輻

Phonosemantic compound. 车 represents the meaning and 畐 represents the sound. Simplified form of 輻.

  1. 1The meaning half車 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half畐 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawaywheel
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 輻? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 輻?

Decomposition of 輻

IDS Structure⿰車畐
輻Full Character
=
車che1
left
畐fu2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 輻?

How to say ray, spoke in Chinese

“ray, spoke” in Chinese is輻fú

The character 輻 (fú) primarily means 'ray' or 'spoke', often in the context of a wheel or a radiating line. It is commonly used in technical language related to mechanics or physics, as well as in discussions about light. The character conveys the idea of something extending outward from a central point.

When to use 輻

In formal contexts, 輻 is often used in scientific or technical discussions. Common collocations include 輻射 (fúshè, radiation) and 輻輪 (fúlún, spoke of a wheel). Be careful with the tone; the first tone can make it sound like 'to bless' (福 fú) instead.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 輻 with 福 (fú), which means 'blessing' or 'good fortune'. For example, saying '我喜欢福' (I like rays) instead of '我喜欢辐' (I like spokes) can lead to confusion.

Write 輻

輻

Practice writing 輻 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 輻

Words Containing This Character11
辐射fúshèradiation輻射
核辐射nuclear radiation核輻射
辐照irradiation輻照
辐fúspoke of a wheel輻
轮辐wheel spoke輪輻
辐射能radiation energy (e.g. solar)輻射能
热辐射thermal radiation熱輻射
光辐射light radiation光輻射
辐条(wheel) spoke輻條
辐射场radiation field輻射場
辐射计radiometer輻射計
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 辐射 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 輻

While it may not be commonly used in everyday conversation, 輻 refers to technical contexts related to wheels or rays, such as in physics.

Jason Recommends

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