Meanings of 船长
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Podcast: 船长
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AI Study Notes for 船长
船员 (crew member) - use 船长 when referring specifically to the captain, who has authority, rather than a general crew member.
When using 船长, be aware that it is predominantly formal and used in maritime contexts. A common mistake is confusing it with other leadership roles, like '船员' (crew member), which refers to the crew rather than the captain. Avoid using it in casual, non-maritime conversations.
While 船长 is not an HSK vocabulary word, it can be relevant for students focusing on HSK Level 4 and above, where maritime terms may appear in reading passages. Students should pay attention to related vocabulary like 船 (boat) and 长 (long/leader).
Learners often confuse 船长 with other nautical terms such as 船员 (crew member) or 船只 (vessel). For example, saying '我想成为一个船员' (I want to become a captain) is incorrect; the correct term is '船长'.
Pronunciation of 船长
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Component Characters
How to say captain (of a boat) in Chinese
“captain (of a boat)” in Chinese is船长
船长 (chuan2 zhang3) refers to the captain or skipper of a boat or ship. This term is commonly used in maritime contexts and conveys authority over the vessel and its crew, emphasizing leadership and navigational responsibilities.
When to use 船长
When using 船长, be aware that it is predominantly formal and used in maritime contexts. A common mistake is confusing it with other leadership roles, like '船员' (crew member), which refers to the crew rather than the captain. Avoid using it in casual, non-maritime conversations.
船长 or something close to it
船员 (crew member) - use 船长 when referring specifically to the captain, who has authority, rather than a general crew member.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 船长 with other nautical terms such as 船员 (crew member) or 船只 (vessel). For example, saying '我想成为一个船员' (I want to become a captain) is incorrect; the correct term is '船长'.
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Frequently Asked Questions about 船长
船长 refers specifically to the captain of the ship, while 船员 refers to the crew members who assist with various tasks on the vessel.
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