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缽 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
earthen basin; alms bowlx, 11 strokes, radical 缶, Very Hard
(bo1) T1
  1. 1earthen basin; alms bowl
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March 24, 2026
(bo1)

The character 缽 (bō) refers to an earthen basin or an alms bowl traditionally used in Buddhist practices for collecting offerings. It is often associated with simplicity and humility, reflecting the lifestyle of monks and the importance of generosity in Chinese culture.

Strokes11RadicalFrequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese Buddhism, the 缽 is symbolic of the monk's reliance on the community for sustenance, embodying the principle of non-attachment and humility.

Memory Tip

Imagine a monk holding a large, earthy bowl (缽) that resembles a pot. The bowl is filled with offerings from the community, symbolizing both sustenance and gratitude. The visual of a monk with a bowl helps to connect the sound 'bō' with its meaning.

Meanings of 缽

(bo1)
1earthen basin; alms bowl
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 缽

Simplified
11Strokes
Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 缽

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AI Study Notes for 缽

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a monk holding a large, earthy bowl (缽) that resembles a pot. The bowl is filled with offerings from the community, symbolizing both sustenance and gratitude. The visual of a monk with a bowl helps to connect the sound 'bō' with its meaning.

Usage Notes

缽 is a formal term, often used in religious contexts or discussions about Buddhist practices. Be cautious not to confuse it with similar-sounding words, and note that it can also imply a sense of reverence when discussing donations or offerings.

HSK Study Tips

While 缽 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it can enrich your understanding of cultural and religious terminology in Chinese. Focus on the context in which this character appears, especially in texts related to Buddhism.

Cultural Note

In Chinese Buddhism, the 缽 is symbolic of the monk's reliance on the community for sustenance, embodying the principle of non-attachment and humility.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 缽 with other similar characters like 碗 (wǎn, bowl) due to the similar shape. Remember that 缽 specifically refers to an alms bowl rather than any type of bowl.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 缽

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Etymology of 缽

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

Phonosemantic compound. 钅 represents the meaning and 本 represents the sound. Simplified form of 缽.

Memory Hint

pottery

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 缽?

Decomposition of 缽

IDS Structure⿰缶本
Full Character
=
fou3
left
ben3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 缽?

Write 缽

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

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Cultural Notes for 缽

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese Buddhism, the 缽 is symbolic of the monk's reliance on the community for sustenance, embodying the principle of non-attachment and humility.

Word Family of 缽

Words Containing This Character4
Sanskrit paatra
衣钵legacy衣缽
钵盂alms bowl缽盂
钵头earthen bowl (Shanghainese)缽頭
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 钵 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 缽

缽 is primarily used to refer to a monk's alms bowl, used for collecting food and offerings.