stroke, pat, smooth down
撫 centers on a gentle, soothing touch: stroking, patting, or smoothing something down with the hand.
撫 combines 扌 (hand) with 無, which likely contributes the sound and the idea of soothing or calming. The exact historical development of the compound is uncertain.
A hand 扌 beside 無, which looks like a person with a calm, empty mind. Picture a hand gently stroking someone's back to soothe them into a peaceful, thoughtless state.
For ブ, imagine a gentle boo sound made while stroking a baby to calm it: boo -> ブ, and the hand 扌 smooths down the fussiness.
pink (any flower of genus Dianthus, esp. the fringed pink, Dianthus superbus)
caressing; fondling; (sexual) petting
to stroke; to caress; to brush gently; to pat; to rub
patting; stroking; caressing
large pink (Dianthus superbus var. longicalycinus)
to smooth with the hand; to stroke; to comb (down)
(one) stroke
China pink (species of flower, Dianthus chinensis)
pacification
pacification work (activity)
weaselsnout (Lagotis glauca)
pacification; soothing
superficial (knowledge, learning, etc.); shallow
to stroke; to caress
to brush gently; to stroke; to caress
to caress; to stroke
to comb back
to stroke down; to smooth down
hair that is smoothed down
to comb down; to smooth down