Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
鲍(鮑)bào(Bao4)
鲍 (bào) primarily refers to abalone, a type of shellfish highly valued in Chinese cuisine for its flavor and texture. It can also denote dried fish and serves as a surname in Chinese culture. While commonly used in culinary contexts, the character is less frequently encountered in everyday conversation, making it more specialized.
Strokes13Radical鱼Frequency#6154DifficultyHard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, abalone is considered a delicacy often served during banquets and special occasions, symbolizing wealth and prosperity. Its preparation and consumption reflect the importance of seafood in traditional Chinese gastronomy.
Memory tip
Imagine a 'bao' (包) bun filled with an abalone delicacy. The character 鲍 has a fish radical (鱼) on the left, indicating it relates to aquatic life. Picture a chef holding a giant abalone, saying 'bào' with enthusiasm—this visual helps connect the pronunciation with its meaning.
Meanings of 鲍
bào(Bao4)
1abalone; dried fish; surname
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 鲍 means.
About 鲍
鲍Simplified
鮑Traditional
13Strokes
鱼Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 鲍
Podcast: 鲍
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI study notes for 鲍
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 鲍 with other seafood-related characters due to its specificity. It's mostly used in formal or culinary contexts, so be cautious when using it in casual conversations. Common collocations include 鲍鱼 (bào yú, abalone) and 鲍汁 (bào zhī, abalone sauce).
HSK Study Tips
While 鲍 is not included in the HSK levels, it connects well with food-related vocabulary found in earlier levels. Students should focus on the pronunciation and the context in which it appears, especially in culinary discussions.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use 鲍 when referring to general fish, while it specifically denotes abalone. For example, saying 鲍 for any seafood dish is incorrect; instead, use 鱼 (yú) for fish in general.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 鲍
Premium — Locked
Tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 鲍, say it back, see your pitch against the model voice, and earn XP towards mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 鲍 through them.
Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.
How well do you know 鲍?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 鲍 is seven skills, not one.
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.
鲍 = 鱼 + 包. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 鲍
IDS Structure⿰鱼包
鲍Full character
=
鱼Yu2
left
包Bao1
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 鲍?
How to say surname Bao in Chinese
“surname Bao” in Chinese is鲍bào
鲍 (bào) primarily refers to abalone, a type of shellfish highly valued in Chinese cuisine for its flavor and texture. It can also denote dried fish and serves as a surname in Chinese culture. While commonly used in culinary contexts, the character is less frequently encountered in everyday conversation, making it more specialized.
When to use 鲍
Learners often confuse 鲍 with other seafood-related characters due to its specificity. It's mostly used in formal or culinary contexts, so be cautious when using it in casual conversations. Common collocations include 鲍鱼 (bào yú, abalone) and 鲍汁 (bào zhī, abalone sauce).
What learners get wrong
Learners often mistakenly use 鲍 when referring to general fish, while it specifically denotes abalone. For example, saying 鲍 for any seafood dish is incorrect; instead, use 鱼 (yú) for fish in general.
Write 鲍
鲍
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 鲍 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
Grammar patterns of 鲍
鲍 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). It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
____勃·马利让他们首次接触到了雷盖音乐。
Bob Marley provided them with their first taste of Reggae music.
