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舨 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
舨bǎnsampan, wooden boatx, 10 strokes, radical 舟
bǎn(ban3) T3
  1. 1sampan, wooden boat
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

舨bǎn(ban3)

The character 舨 (bǎn) refers to a type of small wooden boat, commonly known as a sampan. These boats are often used in coastal areas and rivers for transportation and fishing. The term signifies not just the vessel itself but also the cultural significance of watercraft in regions where waterways are vital for daily life.

Strokes10Radical舟
Cultural Note

Sampans have historical importance in Chinese culture, especially in riverine communities where they serve as essential means of livelihood. They are often depicted in traditional paintings and are iconic symbols of life on the water in places like the Yangtze River.

Memory Tip

Imagine a small wooden boat (sampan) gliding smoothly on water. The character 舨 looks like a boat on waves, with the top part resembling the boat's hull and the bottom part suggesting water underneath. Remember 'bǎn' by associating it with the sound of waves lapping against the boat.

Meanings of 舨

bǎn(ban3)
1sampan, wooden boat
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 舨

舨Simplified
10Strokes
舟Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 舨

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Podcast: 舨

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AI Study Notes for 舨

Usage Notes

Be mindful that 舨 is more commonly used in specific contexts related to traditional boats and may not be familiar in casual conversation about modern vessels. It is informal and might not be understood universally, so context is essential when using it. Collocations include 舨船 (bǎn chuán) for 'sampan' or 'wooden boat.'

HSK Study Tips

Although 舨 is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, understanding it can enhance your knowledge of nautical terms related to rivers and coastal life in Chinese. Focus on recognizing the character's components and how it fits into discussions about transportation or fishing.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 舨 (bǎn) with 船 (chuán), which is a broader term for any kind of boat. For example, saying 舨 when referring to a modern ship is incorrect; use 船 instead.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 舨

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Etymology of 舨

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

boat

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 舨

  1. 1The meaning half舟 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half反 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawayboat
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

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

Want the full history of 舨? 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 舨?

Decomposition of 舨

IDS Structure⿰舟反
舨Full Character
=
舟zhou1
left
反fan3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 舨?

How to say sampan, wooden boat in Chinese

“sampan, wooden boat” in Chinese is舨bǎn

The character 舨 (bǎn) refers to a type of small wooden boat, commonly known as a sampan. These boats are often used in coastal areas and rivers for transportation and fishing. The term signifies not just the vessel itself but also the cultural significance of watercraft in regions where waterways are vital for daily life.

When to use 舨

Be mindful that 舨 is more commonly used in specific contexts related to traditional boats and may not be familiar in casual conversation about modern vessels. It is informal and might not be understood universally, so context is essential when using it. Collocations include 舨船 (bǎn chuán) for 'sampan' or 'wooden boat.'

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 舨 (bǎn) with 船 (chuán), which is a broader term for any kind of boat. For example, saying 舨 when referring to a modern ship is incorrect; use 船 instead.

Write 舨

舨

Practice writing 舨 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 舨

Words Containing This Character2
舨bǎnsampan
舢舨sampan
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 舨 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 舨

It is pronounced as 'bǎn' with a falling tone.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 舨?

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.