How to Write 谱 (pǔ) — Meaning “chart; score; manual”

Imagine that 谱 is a 'universal speech' — the radical 讠 (speech) combined with 普 (universal) creates a standard way to communicate music or cooking. Picture a recipe book (菜谱) as a universal language for food, or sheet music (歌谱) as a universal language for songs.

Write the left radical 讠 first with three strokes: dot, horizontal fold, then vertical hook. On the right side 普, pay attention to the top part: it is 艹 (grass) followed by a horizontal stroke 一, then 日 (sun), and another 日 at the bottom. A common mistake is forgetting the horizontal stroke between the grass and the first 日.

谱 (pǔ) means a systematic chart or score (e.g., recipe, music), while 谟 (mó) means a plan or strategy, and 谠 (dǎng) means upright or honest speech. Visually, their right sides differ: 普, 莫, and 党 are all distinct. In usage, 谱 focuses on written records, whereas 谟 and 谠 describe types of speech or thought.

谱 appears in everyday terms like 菜谱 (cookbook), 歌谱 (sheet music), and 谱子 (music score). It refers to any systematic list or standard reference that guides a practical activity. Culturally, having a 谱 implies order and reliability, as in following a trusted recipe or musical score.

Common words containing 谱 include: 菜谱 (cài pǔ) — cookbook; recipe; 歌谱 (gē pǔ) — Sheet music; 谱子 (pǔ zi) — music score; sheet music.