吩咐
fēn fu HSK 6

English Meaning

Categories

📚 Example Sentences

老板吩咐员工完成报告。
Lǎobǎn fēnfù yuángōng wánchéng bàogào.
The boss instructed the employees to finish the report.
妈妈吩咐孩子早点睡觉。
Māma fēnfù háizi zǎo diǎn shuìjiào.
The mother ordered the child to go to bed early.
他按照吩咐准备了会议材料。
Tā ànzhào fēnfù zhǔnbèile huìyì cáiliào.
He prepared the meeting materials as instructed.
妈妈吩咐我。
Māmā fēnfù wǒ.
Mom instructs me.
他吩咐员工。
Tā fēnfù yuángōng.
He instructs the employees.

💡 Memory Tip

Think of 吩咐 as '分 (fēn) tasks and 付 (fù) responsibility'—someone in charge divides (分) duties and entrusts (付) them to others. The pinyin 'fenfu' also sounds like 'fan-foo'—imagine a boss fanning themselves while giving you food for thought (instructions).

📝 Usage Notes

It is used in both spoken and written Chinese, often in formal or semi-formal contexts. It is common in workplace, family (e.g., elders to younger members), or hierarchical settings. While not extremely casual, it can appear in everyday speech when referring to instructions from authorities.

📖 Grammar Points

Common structure: [Subject (authority)] + 吩咐 + [Person] + [Action]. Example: 他吩咐我准备文件。 (He instructed me to prepare the documents.) It can be followed by a clause or an object plus verb phrase.

🏯 Cultural Notes

Reflects traditional Chinese respect for hierarchy and authority, such as in family or workplace dynamics. Using 吩咐 acknowledges the speaker's subordinate or respectful position toward the instructor.

🔄 Similar Words

Similar to 告诉 (gàosu, to tell/inform, more neutral) and 命令 (mìnglìng, to command, more forceful/official). 吩咐 implies respectful instruction with an expectation of compliance, often with a personal touch, whereas 命令 is stricter and more military/legal in tone.

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