Fu was originally an ideogram, being composed of 又 yu again, which anciently meant a hand with three fingers stretched out and was the original form of the more modern 右 yu right hand, and a ferule. A common name for a father is 家嚴 chia yen the family severe one, while a mother is called 家慈 chia tz'ŭ the family gentle one. In the mouth of the child fu becomes 爹 tieh daddy. Fu sometimes = male.