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堡 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
堡
bǎo
an earthwork
ng, 12 strokes, radical 土, rank #5519, Hard
堡
bǎo
castle
ng, 12 strokes, radical 土, rank #5519, Hard
堡
bǎo
position of defense
ng, 12 strokes, radical 土, rank #5519, Hard
堡
bǎo
stronghold
ng, 12 strokes, radical 土, rank #5519, Hard
堡
bǎo
fort, fortress; town, village
ng, 12 strokes, radical 土, rank #5519, Hard
堡
bǎo
used in place names
ng, 12 strokes, radical 土, rank #5519, Hard
堡
bǎo
used in place names, often as phonetic bao for "burg" or "bad"
ng, 12 strokes, radical 土, rank #5519, Hard
堡
pù
an earthwork
ng, 12 strokes, radical 土, rank #5519, Hard
堡
pù
castle
ng, 12 strokes, radical 土, rank #5519, Hard
堡
pù
position of defense
ng, 12 strokes, radical 土, rank #5519, Hard
堡
pù
stronghold
ng, 12 strokes, radical 土, rank #5519, Hard
堡
pù
fort, fortress; town, village
ng, 12 strokes, radical 土, rank #5519, Hard
堡
pù
used in place names
ng, 12 strokes, radical 土, rank #5519, Hard
堡
pù
used in place names, often as phonetic bao for "burg" or "bad"
ng, 12 strokes, radical 土, rank #5519, Hard
bǎo(bao3)bao
primary
T3
1an earthwork
2castle
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
堡bǎo(bao3)
The character 堡 (bǎo) refers to a fort or fortress, often associated with defensive structures. It can also signify a stronghold or a place of protection, commonly found in place names throughout China. This character conveys a sense of security and military fortification.
Strokes12Radical土Frequency#5519DifficultyHard
Cultural note
In Chinese history, many ancient cities had fortifications, and 堡 is often used in the names of these historical sites, reflecting the significance of defense in Chinese culture. For example, famous castles or fortresses in regions like Xinjiang often incorporate this character.
Memory tip
Imagine a castle (堡) standing tall on a hill, surrounded by a protective wall (土) made of earth. The 'b' sound in '堡' can remind you of 'burg,' as in a fortified town, and the 'ǎo' sounds like 'owl,' which watches over the fortress at night.
Meanings of 堡
bǎo(bao3)
primary
1an earthwork
2castle
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 堡 means.
About 堡
堡Simplified
12Strokes
土Radical
名语素míngcínoun root (n.root)Part of Speech
#5519Frequency Rank
Podcast: 堡
Podcast: 堡
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AI study notes for 堡
Quick Contrast
碉 (diāo) — use 堡 for larger, fortified structures, while 碉 refers specifically to smaller, often tower-like defensive constructions.
Usage Notes
When using 堡, be mindful of its context as a place name or in military terminology. Common collocations include '城堡' (castle) and '防御堡垒' (defensive fortress). Avoid confusing it with similar sounding characters like 褒 (bāo), which means to praise.
HSK Study Tips
Although 堡 is not an HSK word, it connects with other terms related to buildings and structures, which are common in HSK vocabulary. Focus on understanding its use in geographical names and military contexts to enhance your comprehension of related vocabulary.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 堡 with other similar-sounding characters like 褒 (to praise) or 堡's variant, 鋪 (pù), which means to pave or lay out. For example, saying '我住在一个褒' instead of '我住在一个堡' can lead to misunderstandings.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 堡
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The character 堡 (bǎo) refers to a fort or fortress, often associated with defensive structures. It can also signify a stronghold or a place of protection, commonly found in place names throughout China. This character conveys a sense of security and military fortification.
When to use 堡
When using 堡, be mindful of its context as a place name or in military terminology. Common collocations include '城堡' (castle) and '防御堡垒' (defensive fortress). Avoid confusing it with similar sounding characters like 褒 (bāo), which means to praise.
堡 or something close to it
碉 (diāo) — use 堡 for larger, fortified structures, while 碉 refers specifically to smaller, often tower-like defensive constructions.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 堡 with other similar-sounding characters like 褒 (to praise) or 堡's variant, 鋪 (pù), which means to pave or lay out. For example, saying '我住在一个褒' instead of '我住在一个堡' can lead to misunderstandings.
Write 堡
堡
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Practice writing 堡 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 堡
堡 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 7 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
军队仍然是男人占据的最后____垒之一。
The army is still one of the last male bastions.
Example sentences for 堡 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
军队仍然是男人占据的最后堡垒之一。
jūnduì réngrán shì nánrén zhànjù de zuìhòu bǎolěi zhīyī。
The army is still one of the last male bastions.
2
素食汉堡是一种迅速传到了英国的新开发食品。
sùshí hàn bǎo shì yī zhǒng xùnsù chuán dào le Yīng guó de xīn kāifā shípǐn。
The vegetarian burger was an innovation which was rapidly exported to Britain.
3
岛的最高处耸立着一座巨大的黑色城堡。
dǎo de zuì gāo chǔ sǒnglì zhe yī zuò jùdà de hēisè chéngbǎo。
