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March 24, 2026
泊bó(bo2)
The character 泊 (bó) primarily refers to a lake or body of water, but it also has meanings related to anchoring or mooring a boat. It is commonly used in contexts involving navigation, transportation, or describing serene water settings, often implying a sense of calmness and stability.
Strokes8Radical氵Frequency#9020DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, lakes hold significant beauty and are often associated with poetry and tranquility. The famous West Lake in Hangzhou is a prime example, embodying the serene qualities of 泊.
Memory Tip
Imagine a boat (the character looks like a boat on water) gently resting at a lake (the water radical 氵). The sound 'bó' can remind you of 'boat' which helps you remember both the meaning and pronunciation.
Meanings of 泊
bó(bo2)
primary
1to anchor
2lake
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
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About 泊
泊Simplified
8Strokes
氵Radical
名语素míngcínoun root (n.root)Part of Speech
#9020Frequency Rank
Podcast: 泊
Podcast: 泊
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AI Study Notes for 泊
Quick Contrast
泊 (bó) vs 停 (tíng) — use 泊 for mooring or anchoring, while 停 refers to stopping or halting in a more general sense.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a boat (the character looks like a boat on water) gently resting at a lake (the water radical 氵). The sound 'bó' can remind you of 'boat' which helps you remember both the meaning and pronunciation.
Usage Notes
While 泊 can refer to both lakes and the action of anchoring, learners often confuse it with other water-related terms. It is typically used in formal contexts related to navigation, so avoid using it in casual speech unless discussing water bodies specifically.
HSK Study Tips
Though 泊 is not part of the official HSK levels, it can be connected to water and nature-related vocabulary commonly found in HSK. Students should focus on how it fits within phrases dealing with nature or transportation.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, lakes hold significant beauty and are often associated with poetry and tranquility. The famous West Lake in Hangzhou is a prime example, embodying the serene qualities of 泊.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 泊 with other similar characters like 河 (hé, river). For example, saying '我去泊河' (I go to the lake) is incorrect; it should be '我去湖泊' (I go to the lake).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 泊
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Grammar Patterns of 泊
泊 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 6 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
Complete the Sentence
她被发现躺在一片血____中。
She was found lying in a pool of blood.
Example Sentences for 泊 (10)
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1
她被发现躺在一片血泊中。
tā bèi fā xiàn tǎng zài yī piàn xiě bó zhōng。
She was found lying in a pool of blood.
2
这艘船停泊在离该半岛北部海岸不远的地方。
zhè sōu chuán tíng bó zài lí gāi bàn dǎo běi bù hǎi àn bù yuǎn de dì fāng。
The boat was anchored off the northern coast of the peninsula.
3
最近的安全泊地在新斯科舍省的哈利法克斯。
zuì jìn de ān quán bó dì zài xīn sī kē shě shěng de hā lì fǎ kè sī。
The nearest safe anchorage was in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
4
节目以瓦格纳的歌剧《漂泊的荷兰人》的序曲开场。
jié mù yǐ wǎ gé nà de gē jù《 《 piāo bó de hé lán》 rén 》 de xù qū。
The programme opened with the overture to Wagner's Flying Dutchman.
5
帆船停泊在狭窄的水道上。
fān chuán tíng bó zài xiá zhǎi de shuǐ dào shàng。
Sailing boats lay at anchor in the narrow waterway.
The boat slipped its moorings and drifted out to sea.
Cultural Notes for 泊
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, lakes hold significant beauty and are often associated with poetry and tranquility. The famous West Lake in Hangzhou is a prime example, embodying the serene qualities of 泊.
