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渤 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
渤bóswelling; the Bohai seazg, 12 strokes, radical 氵
渤bóGulf of Zhili or Chihliunknown, 12 strokes, radical 氵
渤bósame as 渤海[Bo2 Hai3], Bohai Sea between Liaoning and Shandongunknown, 12 strokes, radical 氵
bó(Bo2) T2
  1. 1swelling; the Bohai sea
  2. 2Gulf of Zhili or Chihli
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

渤bó(Bo2)

The character 渤 (bó) primarily refers to the Bohai Sea, an important body of water located between Liaoning and Shandong provinces in China. It can also signify a swelling or a bulging shape. This term is commonly used in geographical contexts, particularly when discussing regions and bodies of water in northern China.

Strokes12Radical氵
Cultural Note

The Bohai Sea is a significant area in Chinese culture, serving as a vital shipping route and influencing local economies. It is often featured in discussions about maritime history and trade in China.

Memory Tip

Imagine the letter 'B' (for Bohai) floating on the water of the sea. The character 渤 looks like waves (the radical 水) swelling up (the shape of the character) to form the sea. Picture a boat bobbing on the waves, saying 'Bó' as it rises and falls.

Meanings of 渤

bó(Bo2)
1swelling; the Bohai sea
2Gulf of Zhili or Chihli
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 渤

渤Simplified
12Strokes
氵Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 渤

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Podcast: 渤

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AI Study Notes for 渤

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 渤 with other water-related characters due to their similar components. It is used in both formal and informal contexts, especially in discussions about geography. Be careful with the pronunciation, as misplacing the tone can lead to misunderstandings.

HSK Study Tips

Although 渤 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it connects with other geographical terms that students may encounter. Focus on the pronunciation and context when learning, as this will help in recognizing related terms in discussions about Chinese geography.

Common Mistakes

Learners may mistakenly write 渤 as 沢 (zé), which means marsh or swamp. Remember that 渤 is specifically associated with the Bohai Sea, while 沢 has a different meaning and usage.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 渤

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Etymology of 渤

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory Hint

water

Semantic (meaning)氵
+
Phonetic (sound)勃
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 渤

  1. 1The meaning half氵 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half勃 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawaywater
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

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

Want the full history of 渤? 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 渤?

Decomposition of 渤

IDS Structure⿰氵勃
渤Full Character
=
氵shui3
left
勃bo2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 渤?

How to say swelling; the Bohai sea in Chinese

“swelling; the Bohai sea” in Chinese is渤bó

The character 渤 (bó) primarily refers to the Bohai Sea, an important body of water located between Liaoning and Shandong provinces in China. It can also signify a swelling or a bulging shape. This term is commonly used in geographical contexts, particularly when discussing regions and bodies of water in northern China.

When to use 渤

Learners often confuse 渤 with other water-related characters due to their similar components. It is used in both formal and informal contexts, especially in discussions about geography. Be careful with the pronunciation, as misplacing the tone can lead to misunderstandings.

What learners get wrong

Learners may mistakenly write 渤 as 沢 (zé), which means marsh or swamp. Remember that 渤 is specifically associated with the Bohai Sea, while 沢 has a different meaning and usage.

Write 渤

渤

Practice writing 渤 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 渤

Words Containing This Character3
渤海Bohai Sea, or Bo Hai, between Liaoning and Shandong
渤bóGulf of Zhili or Chihli
渤海湾Bohai Bay渤海灣
Exercise 1 of 3

Compound Meaning

What does 渤海 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 渤

It refers to the Bohai Sea and can also mean swelling or bulging.

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