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筏 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
筏fáraftng, 12 strokes, radical ⺮, rank #40743, Very Hard
fá(fa2)fa T2
  1. 1raft
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March 24, 2026

筏(栰)fá(fa2)

The character 筏 (fá) primarily means 'raft', a flat structure used for floating on water. It is commonly used in contexts related to water transport, recreation, or activities involving rivers or lakes. The term can also refer to a variant of another character with similar root meanings, often found in literary or historical texts.

Strokes12Radical⺮Frequency#40743DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

Rafts are significant in Chinese culture, especially in regions with rivers like the Yangtze, where they are used for fishing and transport. The traditional bamboo raft is a symbol of rural life and eco-friendly practices.

Memory tip

Imagine a 'raft' made of bamboo sticks floating on water. The character 筏 has a bamboo radical (竹) on the left, which connects to its meaning of being made from bamboo, while the right part resembles a platform, reinforcing the idea of a structure that floats.

Meanings of 筏

fá(fa2)
1raft
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 筏 means.

About 筏

筏Simplified
栰Traditional
12Strokes
⺮Radical
名语素míngcínoun root (n.root)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 筏

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Podcast: 筏

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AI study notes for 筏

Usage Notes

When using 筏, be careful not to confuse it with similar-sounding words like 法 (fǎ, law) or 发 (fā, to send out). It is generally used in neutral contexts, and you may hear it in both formal discussions about transport and informal conversations about outdoor activities. A common collocation is '竹筏' (bamboo raft).

HSK Study Tips

Although 筏 is not listed in the HSK vocabulary, it relates to other words about water and transportation. Focus on how this character can be used in conjunction with other water-related terms to enhance your vocabulary around travel and nature.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 筏 with similar characters like 法 and 发. A common mistake is using 筏 when discussing legal matters, which should use 法 instead. Always ensure the context aligns with its meaning of 'raft'.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 筏

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Etymology of 筏

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

bamboo

Semantic (meaning)⺮
+
Phonetic (sound)伐
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

筏 = ⺮ + 伐. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 筏

IDS Structure⿱⺮伐
筏Full character
=
⺮zhu2
top
伐fa2
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 筏?

How to say raft in Chinese

“raft” in Chinese is筏fá

The character 筏 (fá) primarily means 'raft', a flat structure used for floating on water. It is commonly used in contexts related to water transport, recreation, or activities involving rivers or lakes. The term can also refer to a variant of another character with similar root meanings, often found in literary or historical texts.

When to use 筏

When using 筏, be careful not to confuse it with similar-sounding words like 法 (fǎ, law) or 发 (fā, to send out). It is generally used in neutral contexts, and you may hear it in both formal discussions about transport and informal conversations about outdoor activities. A common collocation is '竹筏' (bamboo raft).

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 筏 with similar characters like 法 and 发. A common mistake is using 筏 when discussing legal matters, which should use 法 instead. Always ensure the context aligns with its meaning of 'raft'.

Write 筏

筏

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

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Grammar patterns of 筏

筏 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). The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 5

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

我游到救生____前,死命地抓住它。

I made for the life raft and hung on for dear life.

Example sentences for 筏 (9)

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1
我游到救生筏前,死命地抓住它。

wǒ yóu dào jiù shēng fá qián, sǐ mìng dì zhuāzhù tā。

I made for the life raft and hung on for dear life.
2
他紧紧地贴在木筏上,好让自己浮在水面.

tā jǐnjǐn dì tiē zài mù fá shàng, hǎo ràng zìjǐ fú zài shuǐmiàn.

He clung tightly to the raft to keep himself afloat.
3
船员在救生筏上呆了两天两夜。

chuányuán zài jiù shēng fá shàng dāi le liǎng tiān liǎng yè。

The crew spent two days and nights in their raft.
4
她在一只木筏上漂泊了七天.

tā zài yī zhī mù fá shàng piāobó le qītiān.

She spent seven days afloat on a raft.
5
水流将木筏拽向瀑布,木筏的速度越来越快。

shuǐliú jiāng mù fá yè xiàng pùbù, mù fá de sùdù yuèláiyuè kuài。

The raft gathered speed as the current dragged it toward the falls.
6
这条木筏划近岩礁,然后迅速转向避开.

zhè tiáo mù fá huá jìn yán jiāo, ránhòu xùnsù zhuǎnxiàng bì kāi.

The raft came close to the rocks and then sheered away.
7
现在木筏正划过那隐约可见的镇子.

xiànzài mù fá zhèng huá guò nà yǐnyuē kějiàn de zhèn zi.

Now the raft was passing before the distant town.
8
水手们乘救生筏离开失事的船.

shuǐshǒu men chéng jiù shēng fá líkāi shīshì de chuán.

The sailors got away from the wrecked ship on a raft.
9
要这样做, 你就必须放下舟筏.

yào zhèyàng zuò, nǐ jiù bìxū fàngxià zhōu fá.

And to do this, you MUST drop the raft.

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Word Family of 筏

Words containing this character5
木筏wooden raft
筏fávariant of 筏[fá]栰
筏子raft
救生筏a life raft
皮筏leather float
Exercise 1 of 4

Words with 筏

What does 木筏 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 筏

It is pronounced 'fá' with a rising tone.

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