noun
Common
fu
fo͞o
Fu (noun) means a traditional Chinese literary form mixing prose and rhymed verse, developed under the Han dynasty. Example: “The teacher read us a famous fu and explained its rhythm and imagery.”
noun
1
A traditional Chinese literary form mixing prose and rhymed verse, developed under the Han dynasty.
"The teacher read us a famous fu and explained its rhythm and imagery."
"A fu often describes a place or object in long, richly detailed lines."
"Scholars studied the Han-dynasty fu as an early form of Chinese poetic prose."
How to use fu
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA classical Chinese style of writing that blends poetry and prose.
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Word forms
- Plural
- fus
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The teacher read us a famous _____ and explained its rhythm and imagery.
Etymology
Formed from fuck and you.
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What does “fu” mean?
The word “fu” means a traditional Chinese literary form mixing prose and rhymed verse, developed under the Han dynasty. In plain terms, a classical Chinese style of writing that blends poetry and prose.
How do you pronounce “fu”?
“Fu” is pronounced fo͞o.
How do you use “fu” in a sentence?
Here is “fu” used in a sentence: “Scholars studied the Han-dynasty fu as an early form of Chinese poetic prose.”
What is another word for “fu”?
Words with a similar meaning to “fu” include Fuxian.
What part of speech is “fu”?
“Fu” is a noun.
Is “fu” a common word?
“Fu” is a fairly common word in modern English.
Is "fu" considered poetry or prose?
Fu sits between the two: it is a traditional Chinese literary form that mixes prose passages with rhymed verse rather than being purely one or the other. This hybrid quality is its defining feature and is why it is sometimes translated as "rhapsody" or "rhyme-prose."
How is the literary term "fu" different from the "fu" in "kung fu"?
The literary fu is a Chinese form that blends prose and rhymed verse, developed under the Han dynasty. The "fu" in "kung fu" is a separate word referring to skill or effort gained through practice. They are different words that happen to share the same romanized spelling.
What makes "fu" different from ordinary Western prose?
Unlike standard prose, fu deliberately combines prose sections with rhymed, verse-like passages within a single work. Because it does not fit cleanly into either the poetry or prose categories familiar from Western literature, it is often described as "rhyme-prose."
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