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March 24, 2026
抚养(撫養)fǔyǎng(fu3yang3)
The verb 抚养 (fǔyǎng) means to foster, bring up, or raise someone, typically referring to the care and nurturing of children or animals. It encompasses not only the physical act of providing for them but also the emotional and educational support necessary for their development.
Frequency#3795DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of 抚养 is deeply tied to the values of filial piety (孝, xiào), where parents are expected to raise their children with care, and in return, children are expected to care for their parents in old age.
Memory Tip
Imagine a nurturing figure gently 'fostering' the growth of a plant. The character 抚 contains the radical for 'hand' (扌), symbolizing care and support, while 养 (yǎng) suggests nurturing and raising, like a caregiver tending to a child or animal.
Meanings of 抚养
fǔyǎng(fu3yang3)
1to foster
2to bring up
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About 抚养
抚养Simplified
撫養Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#3795Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2
Podcast: 抚养
Podcast: 抚养
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AI Study Notes for 抚养
Quick Contrast
抚育 (fǔyù) is often used in a more formal or literary context, while 抚养 (fǔyǎng) is more common in everyday language.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a nurturing figure gently 'fostering' the growth of a plant. The character 抚 contains the radical for 'hand' (扌), symbolizing care and support, while 养 (yǎng) suggests nurturing and raising, like a caregiver tending to a child or animal.
Usage Notes
Be cautious with the tone of the word; the third tone for both characters should be pronounced accurately to avoid confusion. It is often used in both formal and informal contexts, especially in discussions about family and parenting. Common collocations include 抚养孩子 (fǔyǎng háizi - raise children) and 抚养费 (fǔyǎng fèi - child support).
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 6 word, 抚养 connects well with other words related to family and upbringing, such as 教育 (jiàoyù - education) and 关心 (guānxīn - care). Focus on using it in contexts related to family discussions or social issues surrounding child-rearing.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of 抚养 is deeply tied to the values of filial piety (孝, xiào), where parents are expected to raise their children with care, and in return, children are expected to care for their parents in old age.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 抚养 with 养, using it inappropriately for pets or objects. For example, saying '我抚养我的猫' (Wǒ fǔyǎng wǒ de māo - I foster my cat) should instead be '我养我的猫' (Wǒ yǎng wǒ de māo).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 抚养
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Grammar Patterns of 抚养
抚养 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
仍然有许多女性为了____孩子而离职。
Many women still take career breaks to bring up children.
Example Sentences for 抚养 (6)
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1
仍然有许多女性为了抚养孩子而离职。
réng rán yǒu xǔ duō nǚ xìng wéi le fǔ yǎng hái zǐ ér lí zhí。
Many women still take career breaks to bring up children.
2
作为单身母亲，我独自抚养我的3个孩子。
zuò wéi dān shēn mǔ qīn， ， wǒ dú zì fǔ yǎng wǒ3 de 3 gè。
I was bringing up my three children as a single parent.
And getting custody will be easy because of Rachel's drinking problem.
Cultural Notes for 抚养
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the concept of 抚养 is deeply tied to the values of filial piety (孝, xiào), where parents are expected to raise their children with care, and in return, children are expected to care for their parents in old age.
Frequently Asked Questions about 抚养
You can say, '他们在美国抚养了两个孩子' (Tāmen zài Měiguó fǔyǎngle liǎng gè háizi) meaning 'They raised two children in the United States.'
While it primarily refers to raising children, it can also be used for animals or even metaphorically for ideas or projects.
抚养 emphasizes the nurturing aspect of raising someone, while 养 (yǎng) can simply mean to raise or to keep, often used in contexts like keeping pets or sustaining oneself.
