‘Bǎo fù’ is a classical Chinese compound noun referring collectively to the two highest-ranking officials appointed to guide and safeguard a crown prince or young royal heir: the ‘bǎo’ (Protector), responsible for the prince’s physical safety and moral conduct, and the ‘fù’ (Tutor), in charge of his scholarly education and ethical cultivation. Though written as two separate characters, ‘bǎo fù’ functions as a single institutional title, often used in historical texts to denote this dual mentorship role within imperial court hierarchy.

The term originates from Zhou dynasty court protocols and appears frequently in Confucian classics like the Rites of Zhou and historical records such as the Records of the Grand Historian. It reflects the deep Confucian emphasis on nurturing virtue and wisdom in future rulers through trusted, morally exemplary mentors. While obsolete in modern administration, ‘bǎo fù’ remains important in academic discussions of traditional Chinese education, governance, and palace institutions.