俯
bend down, lie prostrate
Readings
On'yomi
- フ
Kun'yomi
- ふ.す
- うつむ.く
- ふ.せる
Meaning
俯 centers on lowering the body or head: bending down, bowing forward, or lying face down in prostration.
Most common words using 俯
- 俯瞰ふかん
overlooking; looking down at; having an overhead view; having a bird's-eye view; having a high-angle view
- 俯くうつむくN2
to hang one's head; to look down; to cast one's eyes downward
- 俯きうつむき
facing downward
- 俯きがちうつむきがち
looking down
- 俯き加減うつむきかげん
facing slightly downward
- 俯けうつむけ
facing downward
- 俯けるうつむける
to turn upside down; to turn (face) downward
- 俯すうつぶす
to lie face down (e.g. on the ground, napping on a desk); to lie prone
- 俯すふす
to lower (one's head, gaze, etc.)
- 俯仰ふぎょう
looking up and down; actions; being obliging
- 俯仰天地ふぎょうてんち
looking up and down, from heaven to earth (having nothing to be ashamed of); swearing by Heaven and Earth (having done nothing to be ashamed of)
- 俯仰角ふぎょうかく
angle of elevation
- 俯伏ふふく
prostration
- 俯瞰図ふかんず
bird's-eye view; aerial view; overhead view
- 俯瞰撮影ふかんさつえい
high-angle shot; bird's-eye shot; overhead shot; crane shot
- 俯瞰的ふかんてき
panoramic (view, perspective, etc.); high-level; comprehensive (manner); holistic; broad
- 俯角ふかく
depression; angle of dip
Study
Etymology
俯 combines 亻 (person) with 府, which likely contributes the sound and may relate to bending or lowering. The exact historical development is uncertain.
Meaning mnemonic
A person 亻 beside 府 (which can suggest a government office) bows deeply: imagine someone bending down low in a formal setting.
Reading mnemonic
For フ, picture a person bending down to pick up a fallen shoe: shoe -> フ, and the bowing motion matches the meaning.