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脬 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
脬pāobladderx, 11 strokes, radical ⺼
pāo(pao1) T1
  1. 1bladder
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

脬pāo(pao1)

The character 脬 (pāo) refers specifically to a bladder, particularly in the context of anatomy. It can be used to discuss the organ that stores urine in animals and humans, as well as in botanical terms to describe certain plant structures. This word is less commonly used in everyday conversation but may appear in medical or biological contexts.

Strokes11Radical⺼
Cultural Note

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the concept of the bladder is linked to the body’s energy systems, influencing how health and bodily functions are understood. This reflects a holistic view of the human body prevalent in Chinese culture.

Memory Tip

Imagine a balloon (the bladder) filled with water (liquid) that you can squeeze. The character 脬 has a component that resembles a 'balloon' shape at the top, while the bottom part suggests a container, linking the visual representation to the meaning of a storage organ.

Meanings of 脬

pāo(pao1)
1bladder
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 脬

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

Podcast: 脬

JasonAmy

Podcast: 脬

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 脬

Usage Notes

When using 脬, it's important to be aware of the context, as it is more technical and may not be recognized in casual conversation. Be careful with pronunciation; the first tone (pāo) is crucial, as mixing it up with other tones can lead to confusion with different meanings.

HSK Study Tips

Although 脬 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, understanding it can enhance your comprehension in specialized fields such as biology or medicine. Focus on the radicals and components to better grasp similar terms related to anatomy.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 脬 with similar-sounding words like 胞 (bāo - cell), which can lead to miscommunication in biological discussions. Always double-check the tone and context to ensure accuracy.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 脬

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Etymology of 脬

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

flesh

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 脬

  1. 1The meaning half⺼ carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half孚 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawayflesh
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

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

Want the full history of 脬? 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 脬?

Decomposition of 脬

IDS Structure⿰⺼孚
脬Full Character
=
⺼rou4
left
孚fu2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 脬?

How to say bladder in Chinese

“bladder” in Chinese is脬pāo

The character 脬 (pāo) refers specifically to a bladder, particularly in the context of anatomy. It can be used to discuss the organ that stores urine in animals and humans, as well as in botanical terms to describe certain plant structures. This word is less commonly used in everyday conversation but may appear in medical or biological contexts.

When to use 脬

When using 脬, it's important to be aware of the context, as it is more technical and may not be recognized in casual conversation. Be careful with pronunciation; the first tone (pāo) is crucial, as mixing it up with other tones can lead to confusion with different meanings.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 脬 with similar-sounding words like 胞 (bāo - cell), which can lead to miscommunication in biological discussions. Always double-check the tone and context to ensure accuracy.

Write 脬

脬

Practice writing 脬 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 脬

Words Containing This Character1
脬pāobladder
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 脬 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 脬

No, 脬 is more specialized and typically used in medical or biological contexts.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 脬?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.