How to Write 绂 (fú) — Meaning “ribbon for a seal, sash”

Imagine a royal seal with a fancy silk ribbon attached to it — the ribbon is the 绂. The left side 纟 looks like twisted threads, and the right side 犮 can be remembered as a dog (犬) pulling the ribbon, but note that 犮 is missing the dot that a dog normally has. This helps you recall that 绂 means a ribbon for a seal.

Start with the left radical 纟: write the three strokes in order — two horizontal folds and a vertical lift. For the right side 犮, write a horizontal line first, then a left-falling stroke, a vertical stroke, and finally a right-falling stroke (not a dot). A common mistake is adding a dot like the character 犬 — remember that 绂's right side has no dot.

绂 has the right side 犮 (with four strokes and no dot), while 纡 has the right side 于 (a simple T‑like shape) and 红 has 工 (a horizontal and vertical line). Meaning also differs: 绂 is a ribbon for a seal, 纡 means to twist or bend, and 红 means red. In writing, focus on the right component to avoid confusion.

绂 is not a common character in everyday language, but it appears in historical or formal terms like 绂冕 (ceremonial dress and crown) and 玺绂 (imperial seal with its ribbon). You might encounter it in ancient Chinese texts, historical dramas, or when discussing traditional official regalia. It carries a cultural sense of authority and ceremony.

Common words containing 绂 include: 绂冕 (fú miǎn) — ceremonial dress and crown; 玺绂 (xǐ fú) — imperial seal and its ribbon; 绶绂 (shòu fú) — ribbon and seal cord.