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啵 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
啵bōonomatopoetic, the sound of a brook bubblingy, 11 strokes, radical 口, rank #13811, Very Hard
啵bō(onom.) to bubbleunknown, 11 strokes, radical 口, rank #13811, Very Hard
啵bōgrammatical particle equivalent to 吧unknown, 11 strokes, radical 口, rank #13811, Very Hard
啵boonomatopoetic, the sound of a brook bubblingy, 11 strokes, radical 口, rank #13811, Very Hard
啵bo(onom.) to bubbleunknown, 11 strokes, radical 口, rank #13811, Very Hard
啵bogrammatical particle equivalent to 吧unknown, 11 strokes, radical 口, rank #13811, Very Hard
bō(bo1)
primary
 T1
  1. 1onomatopoetic, the sound of a brook bubbling
  2. 2(onom.) to bubble
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

啵bō(bo1)

The character 啵 (bō) is an onomatopoetic expression that imitates the sound of bubbling water, often associated with brooks. It can also function as a grammatical particle similar to 吧, used to suggest a possibility or to soften a statement, making it a versatile addition to conversational Mandarin.

Strokes11Radical口Frequency#13811DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, sounds often have specific meanings and associations, making onomatopoeic words like 啵 significant in storytelling and poetry, reflecting the beauty of nature and the fluidity of life.

Memory Tip

Imagine a bubbling brook where water makes a 'bō' sound as it flows over rocks. The character 啵 has the radical for speech (口) at the top, hinting at its use in conversation, while the bottom part suggests fluid movement, connecting the sound of bubbling to the act of speaking.

Meanings of 啵

bō(bo1)
primary
1onomatopoetic, the sound of a brook bubbling
2(onom.) to bubble
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 啵

啵Simplified
11Strokes
口Radical
语气词yǔqìcímodal particle (mod.part.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 啵

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Podcast: 啵

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AI Study Notes for 啵

Usage Notes

Learners may confuse 啵 with other similar-sounding particles. It's informal, often used in casual conversations. Be cautious with tone; using the wrong tone can lead to misunderstandings, as 'bō' vs. 'bō' can change meanings entirely.

HSK Study Tips

While 啵 is not included in standard HSK levels, it enriches conversational skills at any level. Students should focus on using it in context, especially when discussing sounds or lightening the tone of a statement.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 啵 with similar-sounding particles or mispronounce it, leading to misunderstandings. For example, saying '波' (bō - wave) instead of '啵' can change the meaning entirely.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 啵

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Etymology of 啵

Formation TypeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Memory Hint

The sound 口 of ripples in the water 波; 波 also provides the pronunciation

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 啵

  1. 1The giveawayThe sound 口 of ripples in the water 波; 波 also provides the pronunciation
  2. 2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 啵? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 啵?

Decomposition of 啵

IDS Structure⿰口波
啵Full Character
=
口kou3
left
波Bo1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 啵?

How to say onomatopoetic, the sound of a brook bubbling in Chinese

“onomatopoetic, the sound of a brook bubbling” in Chinese is啵bō

The character 啵 (bō) is an onomatopoetic expression that imitates the sound of bubbling water, often associated with brooks. It can also function as a grammatical particle similar to 吧, used to suggest a possibility or to soften a statement, making it a versatile addition to conversational Mandarin.

When to use 啵

Learners may confuse 啵 with other similar-sounding particles. It's informal, often used in casual conversations. Be cautious with tone; using the wrong tone can lead to misunderstandings, as 'bō' vs. 'bō' can change meanings entirely.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 啵 with similar-sounding particles or mispronounce it, leading to misunderstandings. For example, saying '波' (bō - wave) instead of '啵' can change the meaning entirely.

Write 啵

啵

Practice writing 啵 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 啵

Words Containing This Character2
啵bō(onom.) to bubble
啵啵(onom.) bubbling noise
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 啵 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 啵

It can express the sound of bubbling water or be used as a grammatical particle to suggest a possibility.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 啵?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.