How to Write 幅 (fú) — Meaning “Width / Measure word for paintings or textiles”

Imagine a cloth (巾) that is stretched wide like a field (田 is inside 畐) to cover a painting. This connects the radical to the idea of width, and the sound 'fú' helps you recall the character for a painting or a wide piece of fabric.

Start with the left radical 巾: vertical stroke, horizontal fold hook, then vertical stroke. Then write the right side 畐: a short horizontal, followed by 口 (mouth), and finally 田 (field) at the bottom. A common mistake is making the right part too tall; keep the left narrow and the right slightly wider.

幅 has the right side 畐 (with 田 inside), while 席 has 广 above 巾, and 帱 has 寿 on the right. In meaning, 幅 is a measure for paintings and width, 席 means a mat or a banquet, and 帱 means a curtain or canopy. Visually, look for 田 to remember 幅.

幅 is most often used as a measure word for paintings, pictures, and cloth, like 一幅画 (a painting). It also appears in words like 幅度 (range, extent) and 幅面 (format, page size). Culturally, it reflects the tradition of scroll paintings and textiles in Chinese art history.

Common words containing 幅 include: 一幅画 (yī fú huà) — a painting; a picture; 幅度 (fú dù) — Range / Scope / Extent; 幅面 (fú miàn) — Format / Page size / Surface area.