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March 24, 2026
丈夫zhàngfu(zhang4fu5)
丈夫 (zhàngfu) refers to a husband or male partner in a marriage. It is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts to denote a married man, emphasizing his role within the family. The term can also imply respect and responsibility associated with the husband’s position.
Frequency#550DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the role of a 丈夫 often carries traditional expectations of being the family's primary provider and protector. This reflects the historical emphasis on male authority within the household.
Memory Tip
Imagine a strong 'zhang' (长) standing tall as a 'fu' (夫), symbolizing a husband who supports his family. Visualize a tall man holding a long banner that says 'I am a husband,' helping you remember the pronunciation and meaning.
Meanings of 丈夫
zhàngfu(zhang4fu5)
1husband
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About 丈夫
丈夫Simplified
—Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#550Frequency Rank
个Measure Word
HSK 2.0L2HSK 3.0L2IntermediateTOCFLL4HSKKL2CEFRB1
Podcast: 丈夫
Podcast: 丈夫
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AI Study Notes for 丈夫
Quick Contrast
妻子 (qīzi) - use 丈夫 when referring to a husband, while 妻子 specifically denotes a wife.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a strong 'zhang' (长) standing tall as a 'fu' (夫), symbolizing a husband who supports his family. Visualize a tall man holding a long banner that says 'I am a husband,' helping you remember the pronunciation and meaning.
Usage Notes
Common mistakes include confusing 丈夫 with 男朋友 (nán péngyǒu), which means boyfriend. 丈夫 is used in formal contexts, while 男朋友 is informal. Be careful with tones: 'zhàng' (4th tone) and 'fu' (neutral tone) are essential for correct pronunciation.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 2 word, 丈夫 connects well to other family-related vocabulary like 妻子 (qīzi, wife) and 家 (jiā, family). Focus on using it in sentences about family to reinforce learning.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the role of a 丈夫 often carries traditional expectations of being the family's primary provider and protector. This reflects the historical emphasis on male authority within the household.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 丈夫 with 先生 (xiānsheng), which also means 'Mr.' or 'husband' in a more formal sense. A wrong example would be saying '我的先生' (wǒ de xiānsheng) to mean 'my husband' when '丈夫' is more appropriate.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 丈夫
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Cultural Notes for 丈夫
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the role of a 丈夫 often carries traditional expectations of being the family's primary provider and protector. This reflects the historical emphasis on male authority within the household.
Frequently Asked Questions about 丈夫
Yes, 丈夫 specifically refers to a husband, while 男朋友 is used for boyfriends.
Yes, it can be used in both formal and casual settings, but context matters.
In Chinese, you can indicate plurality with context or by saying 几个丈夫 (jǐ gè zhàngfu) for 'several husbands'.
