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龙舟 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
龙舟lóngzhōudragon boatHSK 7, unknown, 11 strokes, rank #46089, Very Hard
龙舟lóngzhōuimperial boatHSK 7, unknown, 11 strokes, rank #46089, Very Hard
lóngzhōu(long2zhou1)long zhou T2
  1. 1dragon boat
  2. 2imperial boat
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March 24, 2026

龙舟(龍舟)lóngzhōu(long2zhou1)

龙舟 (lóng zhōu) refers to a dragon boat, a traditional wooden boat decorated with a dragon's head, used in festivals and races. It is closely associated with the Duanwu Festival, where teams compete in races to commemorate the poet Qu Yuan. The term also implies a sense of grandeur and cultural significance in Chinese maritime traditions.

Strokes11Frequency#46089DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

龙舟 is prominently featured during the Duanwu Festival (Dragon Boat Festival), where races are held to honor Qu Yuan, reflecting deep cultural respect for history and tradition in China.

Memory tip

Imagine a long, majestic dragon (龙, lóng) soaring over a beautiful boat (舟, zhōu). Picture the dragon's scales shimmering in the sun as it guides the boat through the water. The sound 'long' sounds like 'long' in English, and 'zhou' sounds like 'show,' helping you remember it's a 'dragon show boat.'

Meanings of 龙舟

lóngzhōu(long2zhou1)
1dragon boat
2imperial boat
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About 龙舟

龙舟Simplified
龍舟Traditional
11Strokes
—Radical
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

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AI study notes for 龙舟

Usage Notes

While 龙舟 is commonly used in informal contexts related to festivals, in formal settings you might encounter it in historical texts. A common mistake is confusing it with just '舟' (boat), which does not carry the cultural significance of 'dragon.' Pay attention to the tones: 'long2' (second tone) and 'zhou1' (first tone) are crucial for correct pronunciation.

HSK Study Tips

Although 龙舟 is not explicitly in HSK vocabulary, it connects to HSK Level 3 and above topics on culture and festivals. Students should focus on recognizing the characters and understanding their cultural context, as well as practicing tonal pronunciation.

Common Mistakes

Learners often use '龙船' instead of '龙舟', thinking both mean dragon boat; however, '龙船' is less commonly used and may not convey the same cultural context. Always use '龙舟' for accuracy.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 龙舟

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Component characters

龙lóngdragon
HSK 55 strokes龙
View full entry
舟zhōuboat
HSK 66 strokes舟
View full entry

How to say dragon boat in Chinese

“dragon boat” in Chinese is龙舟lóngzhōu

龙舟 (lóng zhōu) refers to a dragon boat, a traditional wooden boat decorated with a dragon's head, used in festivals and races. It is closely associated with the Duanwu Festival, where teams compete in races to commemorate the poet Qu Yuan. The term also implies a sense of grandeur and cultural significance in Chinese maritime traditions.

When to use 龙舟

While 龙舟 is commonly used in informal contexts related to festivals, in formal settings you might encounter it in historical texts. A common mistake is confusing it with just '舟' (boat), which does not carry the cultural significance of 'dragon.' Pay attention to the tones: 'long2' (second tone) and 'zhou1' (first tone) are crucial for correct pronunciation.

What learners get wrong

Learners often use '龙船' instead of '龙舟', thinking both mean dragon boat; however, '龙船' is less commonly used and may not convey the same cultural context. Always use '龙舟' for accuracy.

Write 龙舟

龙
舟

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Frequently asked questions about 龙舟

Dragon boats are significant during the Duanwu Festival and symbolize teamwork, strength, and cultural heritage.

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