伏
伏·prostrated, bend down, bow
- On-yomi
- ふく
- Kun-yomi
- ふ.せるふ.す
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Stroke order
Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.
Common words
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 伏せる | ふせる | to turn face down, to keep hidden |
| 降伏 | こうふく | surrender |
| 起伏 | きふく | undulation, ups and downs |
| 潜伏 | せんぷく | lying low; incubation (of disease) |
| 伏線 | ふくせん | foreshadowing |
Example sentences
彼は顔を伏せて黙っていた。
かれはかおをふせてだまっていた。
He looked down and said nothing.
敵はついに降伏した。
てきはついにこうふくした。
The enemy finally surrendered.
この辺りの土地は起伏に富んでいる。
このあたりのとちはきふくにとんでいる。
The land around here is full of rises and dips.
Similar-looking kanji
Do not confuse these on the exam.
Common mistakes
- 潜伏 is せんぷく — used both of a fugitive in hiding and of a disease's incubation period.
- 伏線を張る (ふくせんをはる) means to lay a hint for later in a story.
Memory aid
Picture it
A person 亻 with a dog 犬 at their side: the dog lying flat at its master's feet — to crouch, to submit.
Vocabulary using this kanji
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What does the kanji 伏 mean?