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箔 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
screen, foil, plaited matting; silkworm basketn, 14 strokes, radical ⺮, rank #33765, Very Hard
plaited matting (of rushes, bamboo etc)unknown, 14 strokes, radical ⺮, rank #33765, Very Hard
metal foilunknown, 14 strokes, radical ⺮, rank #33765, Very Hard
foil paperunknown, 14 strokes, radical ⺮, rank #33765, Very Hard
(bo2) T2
  1. 1screen, foil, plaited matting; silkworm basket
  2. 2plaited matting (of rushes, bamboo etc)
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
(bo2)

The character 箔 (bó) primarily refers to a thin layer of material, such as foil or a type of plaited matting. It is commonly used in contexts involving wrapping or covering items, especially in cooking and food preservation, as well as in traditional crafts involving bamboo or rushes.

Strokes14RadicalFrequency#33765DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese cuisine, foil is often used for steaming dishes, highlighting the importance of preservation and flavor enhancement in traditional cooking methods. This reflects the culture's emphasis on food presentation and quality.

Memory Tip

Imagine a thin layer of shimmering gold foil being used to wrap a special gift. The character 箔 looks like a basket (the top part resembles a basket's weave) that holds silkworms, related to the production of silk which is often packaged in foil.

Meanings of 箔

(bo2)
1screen, foil, plaited matting; silkworm basket
2plaited matting (of rushes, bamboo etc)
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 箔

Simplified
14Strokes
Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 箔

JasonAmy

Podcast:

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 箔

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a thin layer of shimmering gold foil being used to wrap a special gift. The character 箔 looks like a basket (the top part resembles a basket's weave) that holds silkworms, related to the production of silk which is often packaged in foil.

Usage Notes

Be cautious not to confuse 箔 with similar-sounding characters. It is often used in a more formal context, especially in culinary arts or traditional crafts. Common collocations include '铝箔' (aluminum foil) and '纸箔' (paper foil).

HSK Study Tips

While 箔 is not included in the official HSK levels, it complements vocabulary around materials and crafts, which are often found in HSK vocabulary. Focus on understanding its use in specific contexts like cooking or crafts.

Cultural Note

In Chinese cuisine, foil is often used for steaming dishes, highlighting the importance of preservation and flavor enhancement in traditional cooking methods. This reflects the culture's emphasis on food presentation and quality.

Common Mistakes

Learners may mistakenly use 箔 in contexts unrelated to its meaning, such as using it for 'wrap' generically. For example, saying '我用箔包装书' (I use foil to wrap books) is incorrect; it should be '我用纸包装书' (I use paper to wrap books).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 箔

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Etymology of 箔

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

Phonosemantic compound. ⺮ represents the meaning and 泊 represents the sound.

Memory Hint

bamboo

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

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 箔?

Decomposition of 箔

IDS Structure⿱⺮泊
Full Character
=
zhu2
top
bo2
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 箔?

Write 箔

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar Patterns of 箔

箔 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 4 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

用____纸把鱼包起来。

Wrap the foil over the fish.

Example Sentences for 箔 (4)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
用箔纸把鱼包起来。

yòng bó zhǐ bǎ yú bāo qǐ lái。

Wrap the foil over the fish.
2
蚀刻出来的金属箔格栅是很脆弱的,容易变形 、 皱折或撕裂.

shí kè chū lái de jīn shǔ bó gé zhà shì hěn cuì ruò de, , róng yì biàn、 xíng 、 zhòu zhē huò.

The etched metal - film grids are very fragile and easy to distort, wrinkle or tear.
3
支架周围有一层0.5毫米厚的镉箔.

zhī jià zhōu wéi yǒu yī céng0.5 0.5 háo mǐ hòu de gé.

The block is surrounded by cadmium foil 5 mm thick.
4
每一面都要烘培到,然后把它放入铝箔.

měi yī miàn dū yào hōng péi dào, , rán hòu bǎ tā fàng rù lǚ.

You bake it on both sides and place it in aluminum foil.
Exercise 1 of 1

Reorder the Sentence

Wrap the foil over the fish.

Tap tokens to build the sentence

Cultural Notes for 箔

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese cuisine, foil is often used for steaming dishes, highlighting the importance of preservation and flavor enhancement in traditional cooking methods. This reflects the culture's emphasis on food presentation and quality.

Word Family of 箔

Words Containing This Character5
metal foil
铝箔aluminum foil鋁箔
金箔gold leaf
锡箔tinfoil錫箔
苇箔reed matting葦箔
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 箔 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 箔

It is pronounced as 'bó', with a rising tone.