HSK 5, v, 9 strokes, radical 亻, rank #2195, Medium
保
bǎo
Bulgaria
HSK 5, v, 9 strokes, radical 亻, rank #2195, Medium
保
bǎo
Bulgarian
HSK 5, v, 9 strokes, radical 亻, rank #2195, Medium
保
bǎo
abbr. for 保加利亞
HSK 5, v, 9 strokes, radical 亻, rank #2195, Medium
保
bǎo
>保加利亚[Bǎo jiā lì yà]
HSK 5, v, 9 strokes, radical 亻, rank #2195, Medium
保
bǎo
to protect
HSK 5, v, 9 strokes, radical 亻, rank #2195, Medium
保
bǎo
to keep
HSK 5, v, 9 strokes, radical 亻, rank #2195, Medium
保
bǎo
to guarantee
HSK 5, v, 9 strokes, radical 亻, rank #2195, Medium
保
bǎo
to ensure
HSK 5, v, 9 strokes, radical 亻, rank #2195, Medium
保
bǎo
to safeguard, to protect, to defend, to care for
HSK 5, v, 9 strokes, radical 亻, rank #2195, Medium
保
bǎo
abbr. for 保加利亞|保加利亚[Bao3 jia1 li4 ya4]
HSK 5, unknown, 9 strokes, radical 亻, rank #2195, Medium
bǎo(bao3) T3
1to defend
2Bulgaria
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March 24, 2026
保bǎo(bao3)
The character 保 (bǎo) primarily means 'to protect' or 'to guarantee.' It is commonly used in contexts involving safeguarding something, such as personal safety, property, or rights. Additionally, it can refer to Bulgaria in certain contexts, making it versatile in usage.
Strokes9Radical亻Frequency#2195DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of protection is deeply rooted in family values, where parents are expected to protect their children, reflecting the importance of care and safeguarding in relationships.
Memory Tip
Imagine a strong guardian (保) standing over a treasure, ensuring that it remains safe. The character's left side (亻) represents a person, while the right side (保) resembles a protective shield, emphasizing its meaning of defense and care.
Meanings of 保
bǎo(bao3)
1to defend
2Bulgaria
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 保
保Simplified
9Strokes
亻Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#2195Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L5ElementaryTOCFLL3YCTL4HSKKL2CEFRA2
Podcast: 保
Podcast: 保
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AI Study Notes for 保
Quick Contrast
保 (bǎo, to protect) vs 维护 (wéihù, to maintain) — use 保 when emphasizing the act of protection rather than ongoing maintenance.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a strong guardian (保) standing over a treasure, ensuring that it remains safe. The character's left side (亻) represents a person, while the right side (保) resembles a protective shield, emphasizing its meaning of defense and care.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 保 with related words that also involve protection but have different nuances. It is used in both formal and informal contexts, often appearing in idiomatic expressions like '保障' (bǎozhàng), meaning 'to ensure' or 'to guarantee.' Pay attention to the third tone, as it can change meaning if pronounced incorrectly.
HSK Study Tips
Although 保 is not in the HSK curriculum, it relates to other HSK Level 3 and 4 vocabulary involving safety and security, such as 安全 (ānquán, safety) and 保护 (bǎohù, to protect). Focus on its usage in context with these words to deepen understanding.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of protection is deeply rooted in family values, where parents are expected to protect their children, reflecting the importance of care and safeguarding in relationships.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 保 with other characters that involve safety. For instance, saying '保安' (bǎo ān) incorrectly as '保平安' (bǎo píng'ān) mixes terms, where '保安' specifically means 'security.'
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 保
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Grammar Patterns of 保
保 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 11 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The patterns below break down its most common sentence frames, with example sentences and practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) for each one.
You have to do everything you can. You have to work your hardest. And if you do, if you stay positive, then you have a shot at a silver lining.
Cultural Notes for 保
💡Did you know?
Bulgaria is one of the oldest countries in Europe, established in the 7th century. The name 'Bulgaria' is derived from the Bulgars, a group of Turkic tribes that settled in the region.
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the concept of protection is deeply rooted in family values, where parents are expected to protect their children, reflecting the importance of care and safeguarding in relationships.
Word Family of 保
Compounds11
堡bao3an earthwork
褒bao1to cite; to honor, to praise; to recommend
煲bao1to heat, to boil; saucepan
葆bao3dense foliage; to cover, to conceal; to preserve
褓bao3swaddling cloth; infancy
媬
堢
椺
湺
緥
賲
Words Containing This Character20
保护bǎohùto protect保護
保证bǎozhèngguarantee保證
保持bǎochíto keep
保bǎoto defend
保险bǎoxiǎninsurance保險
确保quèbǎoto ensure確保
保障bǎozhàngto ensure
环保huánbǎoenvironmental protection環保
保安bǎo’ānpublic security
保留bǎoliúto retain
保佑bǎoyòublessing
保姆bǎomǔnanny
保密bǎomìto maintain secrecy
保存bǎocúnto conserve
保守bǎoshǒuconservative
担保dānbǎoto guarantee擔保
保卫bǎowèito defend保衛
保重bǎozhòngto take care of oneself
保罗Paul保羅
保健bǎojiànhealth care
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 堡 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 保
Common phrases that include 保 (bǎo) are '保卫' (bǎowèi), meaning 'to defend', and '保留' (bǎoliú), which means 'to retain'. These phrases illustrate the versatile usage of the character in various contexts.
No, 保 (bǎo) is used in both formal and informal contexts in Chinese. While it may appear in legal or official documents, you will also find it in everyday conversations about ensuring safety or guarantees.
保 (bǎo) primarily means 'to guarantee' or 'to ensure' in Chinese. It is also an abbreviation for Bulgaria (保加利亚) in Chinese. This character can be used in various contexts where assurance or protection is involved.
You can use 保 (bǎo) in sentences to indicate guaranteeing something, such as '我会保你安全' (Wǒ huì bǎo nǐ ānquán), which means 'I will ensure your safety.' It's also used in phrases like '保证' (bǎozhèng) meaning 'to guarantee'.
Some common phrases include '保护' (bǎohù, to protect) and '保障' (bǎozhàng, to ensure).
Yes, it can also refer to Bulgaria or be an abbreviation for 保加利亚 (Bǎo jiā lì yà).
