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埗 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
埗bùjetty, quay; port city, trade hubzg, 10 strokes, radical 土
埗bùwharfunknown, 10 strokes, radical 土
埗bùdockunknown, 10 strokes, radical 土
埗bùtrading centerunknown, 10 strokes, radical 土
埗bùportunknown, 10 strokes, radical 土
埗bùplace nameunknown, 10 strokes, radical 土
bù(bu4) T4
  1. 1jetty, quay; port city, trade hub
  2. 2wharf
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

埗bù(bu4)

The character 埗 (bù) refers to a jetty or wharf, a structure where boats dock for loading and unloading goods. It can also denote a port city or trading hub, emphasizing its role in commerce and transportation. This term is often used in contexts related to maritime trade and transportation infrastructure.

Strokes10Radical土
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, ports and trading hubs have historically been vital for economic development and cultural exchange. Cities like Shanghai and Guangzhou, which have significant ports, have played crucial roles in China's trade history.

Memory Tip

Imagine a large 'B' boat (bù) pulling up to a sturdy dock (the character 埗), where it unloads goods. The '土' radical at the bottom suggests a solid foundation, representing the stability necessary for a wharf. Visualize this sturdy dock bustling with activity to remember its meaning.

Meanings of 埗

bù(bu4)
1jetty, quay; port city, trade hub
2wharf
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 埗

埗Simplified
10Strokes
土Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 埗

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Podcast: 埗

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AI Study Notes for 埗

Usage Notes

Learners should note that 埗 (bù) is more commonly used in written Chinese. A common mistake is to confuse it with similar-sounding words that refer to different types of structures or places. Be careful with the tones; using the wrong tone can lead to misunderstandings.

HSK Study Tips

Though not part of the HSK vocabulary, 埗 (bù) connects to words related to transportation and trade, such as 港口 (gǎngkǒu, port) and 船 (chuán, ship). Students should focus on recognizing the context in which this word appears, especially in discussions of commerce.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 埗 (bù) with similar characters like 布 (bù, cloth) due to pronunciation. For example, saying '我去布' instead of '我去埗' when intending to refer to a port is a common error.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 埗

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Etymology of 埗

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

earth

Semantic (meaning)土
+
Phonetic (sound)步
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 埗

  1. 1The meaning half土 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half步 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawayearth
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 埗? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 埗?

Decomposition of 埗

IDS Structure⿰土步
埗Full Character
=
土Tu3
left
步Bu4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 埗?

How to say jetty, quay; port city, trade hub in Chinese

“jetty, quay; port city, trade hub” in Chinese is埗bù

The character 埗 (bù) refers to a jetty or wharf, a structure where boats dock for loading and unloading goods. It can also denote a port city or trading hub, emphasizing its role in commerce and transportation. This term is often used in contexts related to maritime trade and transportation infrastructure.

When to use 埗

Learners should note that 埗 (bù) is more commonly used in written Chinese. A common mistake is to confuse it with similar-sounding words that refer to different types of structures or places. Be careful with the tones; using the wrong tone can lead to misunderstandings.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 埗 (bù) with similar characters like 布 (bù, cloth) due to pronunciation. For example, saying '我去布' instead of '我去埗' when intending to refer to a port is a common error.

Write 埗

埗

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 埗

Words Containing This Character1
埗bùwharf
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 埗 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 埗

It means jetty or wharf, referring to a structure where boats dock.

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