Meanings of 雹
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About 雹
Podcast: 雹
Podcast: 雹
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AI Study Notes for 雹
冰雹 (bīng báo) vs 雹 (báo) — use 冰雹 when specifically referring to hail as ice pellets, while 雹 can refer to hail in a broader sense.
Be careful not to confuse 雹 (báo) with 雨 (yǔ), which means 'rain.' This word is generally used in a more formal or literary context when discussing weather phenomena. Common collocations include 'hailstorm' (雹暴) and 'hail damage' (雹害).
Although 雹 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it is useful for learners at the intermediate level (HSK 3-4) who are expanding their weather-related vocabulary. Focus on the context in which this word appears, especially in news reports about severe weather.
Learners often confuse 雹 with the similar-sounding word 波 (bō), which means 'wave.' A common mistake is saying '波雨' instead of '雹雨' when referring to hail rain. The correct term is '雹雨' (hail rain).
Pronunciation of 雹
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Jason Explains 雹 to You
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Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
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Etymology of 雹
Phonosemantic compound. 雨 represents the meaning and 包 represents the sound.
rain
Origin
雹 = 雨 + 包. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 雹
Parts
Which of these is part of 雹?
How to say hail in Chinese
“hail” in Chinese is雹
The character 雹 (báo) refers to hail, which is a form of precipitation consisting of balls or irregular lumps of ice. It typically occurs during thunderstorms and can vary in size, causing damage to crops and property. In conversation, it is often discussed in the context of weather conditions and their impact.
When to use 雹
Be careful not to confuse 雹 (báo) with 雨 (yǔ), which means 'rain.' This word is generally used in a more formal or literary context when discussing weather phenomena. Common collocations include 'hailstorm' (雹暴) and 'hail damage' (雹害).
雹 or something close to it
冰雹 (bīng báo) vs 雹 (báo) — use 冰雹 when specifically referring to hail as ice pellets, while 雹 can refer to hail in a broader sense.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 雹 with the similar-sounding word 波 (bō), which means 'wave.' A common mistake is saying '波雨' instead of '雹雨' when referring to hail rain. The correct term is '雹雨' (hail rain).
Write 雹
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Practice writing 雹 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 雹
雹 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
冰____猛落,把玻璃窗也砸破了.
Hail fell with such violence that it broke windows.
Example Sentences for 雹 (1)
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Word Family of 雹
Words with 雹
What does 冰雹 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 雹
It is pronounced as 'báo' with a rising tone.
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