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艚 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
艚cáoship, junkg, 17 strokes, radical 舟
艚cáosea-going junkunknown, 17 strokes, radical 舟
cáo(cao2)cao T2
  1. 1ship, junk
  2. 2sea-going junk
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March 24, 2026

艚cáo(cao2)

The character 艚 (cáo) refers to a traditional type of Chinese ship, specifically a junk that is used for sea travel. These vessels are often characterized by their flat bottoms and high sails, making them suitable for navigating shallow waters. This term is commonly used in maritime contexts and is associated with China's rich seafaring history.

Strokes17Radical舟
Cultural note

The junk is an iconic symbol of China's maritime history, often depicted in art and literature, representing trade, exploration, and cultural exchange along the coasts and rivers of China. Understanding this character can enhance one's appreciation for traditional Chinese shipbuilding techniques.

Memory tip

Imagine a large ship sailing across the sea, and visualize the character 艚 as a boat with its sails up. The sound 'cáo' can remind you of the waves crashing against the hull of a junk, making it easier to remember its meaning as a sea-going vessel.

Meanings of 艚

cáo(cao2)
1ship, junk
2sea-going junk
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 艚

艚Simplified
17Strokes
舟Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 艚

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Podcast: 艚

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AI study notes for 艚

Usage Notes

When using 艚, it's important to note that it is more formal and specific to maritime contexts, so using it in casual conversation about boats might sound odd. Common collocations include phrases like '海上艚' (sea junk) or '传统艚' (traditional junk). Be careful with the tone, as a mispronunciation can change the meaning altogether.

HSK Study Tips

Although 艚 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it can be connected to other HSK words related to water and transportation, such as 船 (chuán, boat) and 海 (hǎi, sea). Students should focus on recognizing the components of the character, as it shares radicals with other water-related terms.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 艚 with 船 (chuán), using them interchangeably despite their specific meanings. For example, saying '我有一艚' (Wǒ yǒu yī cáo) instead of '我有一艘船' (Wǒ yǒu yī sōu chuán) can lead to misunderstandings.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 艚

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Etymology of 艚

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

ship

Semantic (meaning)舟
+
Phonetic (sound)曹
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

艚 = 舟 + 曹. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 艚

IDS Structure⿰舟曹
艚Full character
=
舟zhou1
left
曹Cao2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 艚?

How to say ship, junk in Chinese

“ship, junk” in Chinese is艚cáo

The character 艚 (cáo) refers to a traditional type of Chinese ship, specifically a junk that is used for sea travel. These vessels are often characterized by their flat bottoms and high sails, making them suitable for navigating shallow waters. This term is commonly used in maritime contexts and is associated with China's rich seafaring history.

When to use 艚

When using 艚, it's important to note that it is more formal and specific to maritime contexts, so using it in casual conversation about boats might sound odd. Common collocations include phrases like '海上艚' (sea junk) or '传统艚' (traditional junk). Be careful with the tone, as a mispronunciation can change the meaning altogether.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 艚 with 船 (chuán), using them interchangeably despite their specific meanings. For example, saying '我有一艚' (Wǒ yǒu yī cáo) instead of '我有一艘船' (Wǒ yǒu yī sōu chuán) can lead to misunderstandings.

Write 艚

艚

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

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Word Family of 艚

Words containing this character1
艚cáoseagoing junk

Frequently asked questions about 艚

It represents a traditional type of ship, specifically a sea-going junk, and is less commonly used in everyday language.

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