‘吹拂’ is a compound verb meaning 'to blow gently', typically describing the soft, light movement of wind—like a breeze caressing leaves, hair, or skin. The first character 吹 (chuī) means 'to blow', and the second 拂 (fú) means 'to brush lightly' or 'to stroke'; together, they emphasize gentle, sweeping contact rather than forceful gusts. This word evokes a calm, poetic, or serene atmosphere and is rarely used for strong or harsh wind.

It’s commonly found in descriptive writing—especially nature scenes, poetry, and literary prose—and often appears with subjects like 微风 (gentle breeze), 春风 (spring breeze), or 柳枝 (willow branches). It’s not used for mechanical air movement (e.g., fans or AC) nor for human actions like blowing air from the mouth. Native speakers associate it with tranquility, seasonal change, and delicate natural motion—making it frequent in contexts involving trees, grass, flowers, or flowing water.