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舸 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
舸gěbarge, large boatg, 11 strokes, radical 舟
gě(ge3) T3
  1. 1barge, large boat
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

舸gě(ge3)

The character 舸 (gě) refers to a large boat or barge, typically used for transporting goods on rivers or lakes. It implies a vessel that is sturdier and larger than smaller boats, often used in trade and commerce.

Strokes11Radical舟
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, waterways have historically been vital for trade and transportation, making the concept of large boats or barges like 舸 significant in historical contexts, especially during the development of river trade routes.

Memory Tip

Imagine a giant boat, so large that it can carry a whole cargo of goods. The character 舸 looks like a boat on water, with the radical 舟 (boat) at the bottom, reminding you that it's a type of vessel.

Meanings of 舸

gě(ge3)
1barge, large boat
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 舸

舸Simplified
11Strokes
舟Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 舸

JasonAmy

Podcast: 舸

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 舸

Quick Contrast

舟 (zhōu) refers to a boat or vessel in general, while 舸 (gě) specifically denotes a larger, sturdier boat or barge used for transporting goods.

Usage Notes

In conversation, 舸 is more formal and may not be used in everyday casual speech. Common mistakes include confusing it with smaller boat terms like 船 (chuán), which means 'ship' or 'boat'. Remember to use 舸 in contexts related to larger vessels or trade.

HSK Study Tips

While 舸 is not part of the HSK, it connects with vocabulary related to transportation and water. Learners should focus on recognizing 舟 (boat) as a radical in other characters to enhance their understanding of related terms.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 舸 with 船 (chuán), leading to incorrect usage in casual contexts. For example, saying '我坐在舸上' (Wǒ zuò zài gě shàng - I am sitting on a barge) is correct only if referring to a large barge, not a small boat.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 舸

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Etymology of 舸

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

boat

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 舸

  1. 1The meaning half舟 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half可 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 舸? 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 舸?

Decomposition of 舸

IDS Structure⿰舟可
舸Full Character
=
舟zhou1
left
可ke3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 舸?

How to say barge, large boat in Chinese

“barge, large boat” in Chinese is舸gě

The character 舸 (gě) refers to a large boat or barge, typically used for transporting goods on rivers or lakes. It implies a vessel that is sturdier and larger than smaller boats, often used in trade and commerce.

When to use 舸

In conversation, 舸 is more formal and may not be used in everyday casual speech. Common mistakes include confusing it with smaller boat terms like 船 (chuán), which means 'ship' or 'boat'. Remember to use 舸 in contexts related to larger vessels or trade.

舸 or something close to it

舟 (zhōu) refers to a boat or vessel in general, while 舸 (gě) specifically denotes a larger, sturdier boat or barge used for transporting goods.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 舸 with 船 (chuán), leading to incorrect usage in casual contexts. For example, saying '我坐在舸上' (Wǒ zuò zài gě shàng - I am sitting on a barge) is correct only if referring to a large barge, not a small boat.

Write 舸

舸

Practice writing 舸 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 舸

Words Containing This Character1
舸gěbarge
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 舸 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 舸

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

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 舸?

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.