HSK 7, n, 7 strokes, radical 扌, rank #1680, Very Hard
报
bào
to inform
HSK 7, n, 7 strokes, radical 扌, rank #1680, Very Hard
报
bào
report
HSK 7, n, 7 strokes, radical 扌, rank #1680, Very Hard
报
bào
newspaper
HSK 7, n, 7 strokes, radical 扌, rank #1680, Very Hard
报
bào
recompense
HSK 7, n, 7 strokes, radical 扌, rank #1680, Very Hard
报
bào
revenge
HSK 7, n, 7 strokes, radical 扌, rank #1680, Very Hard
报
bào
to announce, to report; newspaper; payback, revenge
HSK 7, n, 7 strokes, radical 扌, rank #1680, Very Hard
bào(bao4)bao T4
1to announce
2to inform
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March 24, 2026
报(報)bào(bao4)
The character 报 (bào) primarily means 'to announce' or 'to report.' It is commonly used in contexts involving news, notifications, or reporting information, such as in newspapers or formal announcements. Additionally, it has nuances related to recompense or revenge, highlighting a duality in its usage depending on context.
Strokes7Radical扌Frequency#1680DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, newspapers play a vital role in disseminating information and shaping public opinion. The concept of reporting is also tied to accountability and social responsibility, reflecting the importance of transparency in communication.
Memory Tip
Think of 报 (bào) as a 'reporting' sound, where the top part (扌) resembles a hand that is 'announcing' something, while the bottom part (包) can be visualized as a 'package' of information being delivered. Picture a newspaper being handed over, echoing the sound 'bào' as it's given.
Meanings of 报
bào(bao4)
1to announce
2to inform
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
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About 报
报Simplified
報Traditional
7Strokes
扌Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#1680Frequency Rank
份Measure Word
HSK 3.0L7ElementaryTOCFLL3YCTL4HSKKL2CEFRA2
Podcast: 报
Podcast: 报
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AI Study Notes for 报
Quick Contrast
通知 (tōngzhī) vs 报 (bào): Use 通知 for formal notifications or communications, while 报 is more about reporting news or announcements.
Usage Notes
Be cautious with the tone, as 'bào' can be confused with 'bǎo' (保), which means 'to protect.' In formal contexts, it’s often used in phrases related to news or reports, such as 报纸 (bàozhǐ) for 'newspaper.' Common collocations include 报告 (bàogào) meaning 'report' and 报名 (bàomíng) meaning 'to register.'
HSK Study Tips
While 报 is not specifically categorized in HSK levels, its components are useful for learners. It connects with other HSK words related to communication, such as 说 (shuō - to speak) and 告诉 (gàosù - to tell). Focus on recognizing its use in different contexts and its pronunciation.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mix up 报 with similar-sounding words. For instance, saying 报告 (bàogào) incorrectly as 报高 (bàogāo), which does not exist. The correct pronunciation should always use the neutral tone on the second character.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 报
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How Well Do You Know 报?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 报 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.
Simplified form of 報. Pictograph of a kneeling person (卩) being forced by a hand (又) into shackles (㚔). Based on the original meaning "punish". The meaning later shifted to "revenge", "recompense", "report", and "announce".
Memory Hint
A hand 扌 cuffing 又 a criminal 卩, representing sentencing
The character 报 (bào) primarily means 'to announce' or 'to report.' It is commonly used in contexts involving news, notifications, or reporting information, such as in newspapers or formal announcements. Additionally, it has nuances related to recompense or revenge, highlighting a duality in its usage depending on context.
When to use 报
Be cautious with the tone, as 'bào' can be confused with 'bǎo' (保), which means 'to protect.' In formal contexts, it’s often used in phrases related to news or reports, such as 报纸 (bàozhǐ) for 'newspaper.' Common collocations include 报告 (bàogào) meaning 'report' and 报名 (bàomíng) meaning 'to register.'
报 or something close to it
通知 (tōngzhī) vs 报 (bào): Use 通知 for formal notifications or communications, while 报 is more about reporting news or announcements.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mix up 报 with similar-sounding words. For instance, saying 报告 (bàogào) incorrectly as 报高 (bàogāo), which does not exist. The correct pronunciation should always use the neutral tone on the second character.
Write 报
报
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Practice writing 报 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 报
报 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 7 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.
