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March 24, 2026
舶bó(bo2)
The character 舶 (bó) refers to large sea-going vessels or ships, particularly those used for ocean travel. It is commonly used in contexts relating to maritime activities, shipping industries, and transportation by sea.
Strokes11Radical舟Frequency#73175DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, maritime trade has a significant history, particularly during the Tang and Song dynasties when trade across the seas flourished. The character 舶 reflects this legacy of shipping and commerce.
Memory Tip
Imagine a big boat (舶) bobbing on the waves of the ocean. The left part of the character resembles a ship's hull ('船' - boat), while the right part suggests movement ('白' - white) as it sails smoothly across the sea. Think of 'bó' as the sound of waves lapping against the side of a large ship.
Meanings of 舶
bó(bo2)
1sea-going vessels
2ship
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 舶
舶Simplified
11Strokes
舟Radical
名语素míngcínoun root (n.root)Part of Speech
#65535Frequency Rank
Podcast: 舶
Podcast: 舶
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AI Study Notes for 舶
Quick Contrast
船 (chuán) refers to boats or ships in general, while 舶 (bó) specifically denotes larger sea-going vessels.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a big boat (舶) bobbing on the waves of the ocean. The left part of the character resembles a ship's hull ('船' - boat), while the right part suggests movement ('白' - white) as it sails smoothly across the sea. Think of 'bó' as the sound of waves lapping against the side of a large ship.
Usage Notes
In formal contexts, 舶 is often used in technical or legal language related to shipping. Common mistakes include confusing it with smaller vessels like 船 (chuán), which means 'boat.' Remember that 舶 specifically denotes larger ships.
HSK Study Tips
While 舶 is not in the HSK vocabulary list, it connects with related maritime terms such as 船 (chuán) and 货船 (huòchuán - cargo ship). Focus on pronunciation and recognizing its usage in maritime contexts to enhance your vocabulary.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, maritime trade has a significant history, particularly during the Tang and Song dynasties when trade across the seas flourished. The character 舶 reflects this legacy of shipping and commerce.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 舶 (bó) with 船 (chuán), mistakenly using 舶 when they mean to say 'boat.' For example, saying '我有一艘舶' (I have a ship) when it should be '我有一艘船' (I have a boat).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 舶
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Cultural Notes for 舶
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, maritime trade has a significant history, particularly during the Tang and Song dynasties when trade across the seas flourished. The character 舶 reflects this legacy of shipping and commerce.
Word Family of 舶
Words Containing This Character4
船舶chuánbóshipping
舶来品foreign goods舶來品
舶bóship
中国船舶工业集团China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC)中國船舶工業集團
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 船舶 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 舶
No, 舶 is more technical and used in specific contexts related to shipping and maritime activities.
It is pronounced as 'bó' with a rising tone.
No, 舶 specifically refers to large sea-going vessels, not smaller boats.
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