Meaning
The kanji 扶 (ふ, tasu-keru) primarily means to help, to support, or to assist. It often implies offering a hand, either literally or metaphorically, to uplift someone or something in need. You'll frequently encounter this kanji in formal contexts, especially when discussing aid, maintenance, or fostering development.
Its etymology offers a clear visual and conceptual link to its meaning. 扶 is a phono-semantic compound. This means it combines a semantic component, which hints at its meaning, with a phonetic component, which suggests its pronunciation. On the left, you'll find the radical 手 (て), meaning “hand.” This immediately suggests manual action, touching, or providing assistance.
On the right is 夫 (おっと), meaning "husband" or "man." While it helps form the On'yomi sound 'フ' (fu), its original meaning as an adult man, often seen as a family supporter, reinforces the overall concept of aid. Visually, then, 扶 can be interpreted as a "hand" helping or supporting a "man" or a "person," perfectly capturing its meaning of aid and support.
The kanji 扶 consists of 7 strokes. Though it's a standard Jōyō kanji, it isn't assigned a specific school grade (grade 0). This indicates it's learned at a higher level, typically corresponding to JLPT N1 proficiency.
Readings
On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings
The primary On'yomi reading for 扶 is フ (fu). You'll find this reading almost exclusively in compound words, where 扶 combines with other kanji to create more complex meanings related to help, support, or maintenance. This reflects the character's ancient Chinese pronunciation.
- 扶助 (fujo) — meaning aid; support; assistance. This is a common compound, often referring to financial or social assistance. For example, 生活扶助 means 'livelihood assistance', and 医療扶助 means 'medical assistance'.
- 扶養 (fuyō) — meaning support; maintenance (of a family). This term is frequently used in legal and financial contexts, referring to the responsibility of supporting one's dependents. For example, 扶養家族 refers to 'dependents'.
- 扶植 (fushoku) — meaning fostering; cultivating. While less common in everyday conversation, this term appears in more formal or academic contexts to describe nurturing or promoting growth, often for industries, cultures, or new ideas.
Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings
The main Kun'yomi reading for 扶 is たす-ける (tasu-keru). This directly connects to the native Japanese verb "たすける," meaning "to help" or "to assist."
While 扶ける (たすける) is technically valid, it's significantly less common than 助ける (たすける), which is the standard kanji for this meaning in everyday Japanese. Consequently, you'll primarily encounter 扶ける in specific contexts. These often include older or more formal expressions, or situations where the nuance of "propping up" or "supporting from beneath" is specifically intended.
- 扶ける (tasukeru) — meaning to help; to assist; to save. As noted, 助ける is the more common spelling for this general meaning. However, 扶ける might imply a more direct, physical act of supporting or holding up.
- 扶け合う (tasukeau) — meaning to help each other; to cooperate. This compound emphasizes mutual assistance and reciprocity. Again, 助け合う is far more common, but 扶け合う conveys the same meaning.
- 扶持 (fuchi) — meaning stipend; allowance (historical). This less common, historical term refers to a fixed allowance, especially for samurai. Note that it uses the On'yomi reading フ for the first kanji, but an irregular reading for the second.
Common Words & Compounds
You'll find 扶 in several important compounds, mostly using its On'yomi reading フ. This reflects its formal and often administrative usage. These words are key to understanding various aspects of social welfare, economics, and support systems.
- General Support & Aid:
- 扶助 (fujo) — aid; support; assistance.
- 相互扶助 (sōgo fujo) — mutual aid; reciprocal assistance. This phrase is often used in discussions about community support and social safety nets.
- 扶助金 (fujokin) — subsidy; grant; aid money. Funds specifically allocated for assistance.
- 扶助者 (fujosha) — helper; supporter; benefactor. Someone who provides aid.
- Family & Financial Support:
- 扶養 (fuyō) — support; maintenance (especially of family members).
- 扶養家族 (fuyō kazoku) — dependent family members. Those who rely on another for financial support.
- 扶養手当 (fuyō teate) — dependent's allowance; family allowance. A payment given to support dependents.
- 被扶養者 (hifuyōsha) — a dependent; a person who is supported.
- Cultivation & Development:
- 扶植 (fushoku) — fostering; cultivating; promoting. Often used for abstract concepts like culture, industry, or new ideas.
- 扶育 (fuiku) — nurture; foster; bring up. Similar to 扶植, but can also imply raising children or animals.
- Specific Contexts:
- 扶老携幼 (furō keiyō) — supporting the old and carrying the young. An idiom emphasizing care for all generations.
Example Sentences
困っている人を扶け合う心は大切です。
Komatteiru hito wo tasukeau kokoro wa taisetsu desu.
A spirit of mutual help for those in need is important.
政府は経済的に困難な家庭を扶助する政策を発表した。
Seifu wa keizaiteki ni konnan na katei wo fujo suru seisaku wo happyō shita.
The government announced a policy to aid economically struggling households.
彼は会社の再建を扶けるために尽力した。
Kare wa kaisha no saiken wo tasukeru tame ni jinryoku shita.
He made efforts to help rebuild the company.
両親の扶養は、子供にとって重要な責任です。
Ryōshin no fuyō wa, kodomo ni totte jūyō na sekinin desu.
Supporting one's parents is an important responsibility for children.
文化の扶植には長い時間と努力が必要です。
Bunka no fushoku ni wa nagai jikan to doryoku ga hitsuyō desu.
The fostering of culture requires a long time and effort.
私たちは互いに扶け合い、この危機を乗り越えましょう。
Watashitachi wa tagai ni tasukeai, kono kiki wo norikoemashō.
Let's help each other and overcome this crisis.
その組織は、発展途上国の教育を扶ける活動を行っている。
Sono soshiki wa, hattentojōkoku no kyōiku wo tasukeru katsudō wo okonatteiru.
That organization is engaged in activities to support education in developing countries.
親は子供が自立するまで扶養する義務がある。
Oya wa kodomo ga jiritsu suru made fuyō suru gimu ga aru.
Parents have an obligation to support their children until they become independent.
新しい技術の扶植は、国の競争力を高める。
Atarashii gijutsu no fushoku wa, kuni no kyōsōryoku wo takameru.
The fostering of new technologies enhances a nation's competitiveness.
災害時には、迅速な扶助が必要とされます。
Saigaiji ni wa, jinsoku na fujo ga hitsuyō to saremasu.
In times of disaster, prompt aid is required.
Memory Tip
To remember 扶, focus on its two main components. On the left, you have the radical for "hand" (手, appearing as 扌 when a radical). On the right is 夫, which means "man" or "husband."
Imagine a "hand" reaching out to "support" or "help" a "man" who might be struggling, or a husband "supporting" his family. This visual of a hand physically propping someone up makes the meaning of "to help" or "to support" very intuitive and easy to recall. You can loosely associate the sound フ (fu) with the 'f' sound in 'father' or 'family,' connecting to the 'husband/man' component and the idea of family support.