莆 (pú): (in 莆田) Putian, a city in Fujian

Meanings

莆田是福建的沿海城市。

Pútián shì Fújiàn de yánhǎi chéngshì.

Putian is a coastal city in Fujian province.

他的亲戚多是莆田人。

Tā de qīnqi duō shì Pútián rén.

Many of his relatives are from Putian.

usage

In modern use almost only in 莆田, a Fujian city. The original meaning was a marsh reed; that plant sense is now archaic.

radical

艹 cǎo

grass; plants

Grass radical on top, side form of 草. It points back to the old sense of a marsh reed; the place-name use kept the same written form.

phonetic

甫 fǔ

just now; (here) sound

Below, 甫 is the phonetic; the same element gives 蒲 and 葡 their pú reading.

莆 pú