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搏 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
搏bóto fightv, 13 strokes, radical 扌, rank #7054, Hard
搏bóto combatv, 13 strokes, radical 扌, rank #7054, Hard
搏bóto seizev, 13 strokes, radical 扌, rank #7054, Hard
搏bócombat; to fight; to strikev, 13 strokes, radical 扌, rank #7054, Hard
搏bó(of heart) to beatunknown, 13 strokes, radical 扌, rank #7054, Hard
bó(bo2)bo T2
  1. 1to fight
  2. 2to combat
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March 24, 2026

搏bó(bo2)

The character 搏 (bó) generally means 'to fight' or 'to combat.' It can also refer to the action of seizing or striking, often in a physical context. This verb is commonly used in martial arts or competitive scenarios, indicating a struggle or confrontation.

Strokes13Radical扌Frequency#7054DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese martial arts, the concept of 搏 is integral, as it embodies the spirit of competition and perseverance. This character often appears in the context of Chinese phrases about bravery and honor in battle.

Memory Tip

Imagine a fierce battle where two warriors are locked in combat, each trying to land a decisive blow. The character 搏 is made up of the hand radical 扌 (shǒu), symbolizing action and fighting, and the character 博 (bó), which can evoke a sense of broadness or depth, as in a wide-ranging struggle.

Meanings of 搏

bó(bo2)
1to fight
2to combat
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 搏

搏Simplified
13Strokes
扌Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#7054Frequency Rank

Podcast: 搏

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Podcast: 搏

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AI Study Notes for 搏

Quick Contrast

搏 (bó) vs 打 (dǎ) — use 搏 when referring specifically to fighting or combat in a martial context, while 打 is more general for hitting or striking.

Usage Notes

Be mindful of the context in which you use 搏, as it is more suitable for informal settings or specific contexts like martial arts. Common collocations include 搏斗 (bódòu), meaning 'to fight or struggle.' Avoid using it in overly formal contexts, as it may sound out of place.

HSK Study Tips

Although 搏 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it connects thematically with HSK Level 5 words related to conflict or struggle, such as 打 (dǎ, to hit) and 战 (zhàn, to fight). Students should focus on contextual usage and how 搏 interacts with these words.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 搏 with simpler terms like 打 (dǎ), using it in contexts where a more general term would suffice. For example, saying '我想搏他' (Wǒ xiǎng bó tā, 'I want to fight him') is awkward; instead, '我想打他' (Wǒ xiǎng dǎ tā) is more appropriate.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 搏

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Etymology of 搏

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

Phonosemantic compound. 扌 represents the meaning and 尃 represents the sound.

Memory Hint

hand

Semantic (meaning)扌
+
Phonetic (sound)尃
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

搏 = 扌 + 尃. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 搏

IDS Structure⿰扌尃
搏Full Character
=
扌shou3
left
尃fu1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 搏?

How to say to fight in Chinese

“to fight” in Chinese is搏bó

The character 搏 (bó) generally means 'to fight' or 'to combat.' It can also refer to the action of seizing or striking, often in a physical context. This verb is commonly used in martial arts or competitive scenarios, indicating a struggle or confrontation.

When to use 搏

Be mindful of the context in which you use 搏, as it is more suitable for informal settings or specific contexts like martial arts. Common collocations include 搏斗 (bódòu), meaning 'to fight or struggle.' Avoid using it in overly formal contexts, as it may sound out of place.

搏 or something close to it

搏 (bó) vs 打 (dǎ) — use 搏 when referring specifically to fighting or combat in a martial context, while 打 is more general for hitting or striking.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 搏 with simpler terms like 打 (dǎ), using it in contexts where a more general term would suffice. For example, saying '我想搏他' (Wǒ xiǎng bó tā, 'I want to fight him') is awkward; instead, '我想打他' (Wǒ xiǎng dǎ tā) is more appropriate.

Write 搏

搏

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

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Grammar Patterns of 搏

搏 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 5 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 5

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

他们给我量了脉____、血压,还给我的下颌拍了X光片。

They took my pulse, took my blood pressure, and X-rayed my jaw.

Example Sentences for 搏 (16)

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1
他们给我量了脉搏、血压,还给我的下颌拍了X光片。

tā mén gěi wǒ liáng le mài bó、 、 xiě, yā , huán gěi wǒ de xià héX pāi le。

They took my pulse, took my blood pressure, and X-rayed my jaw.
2
这支队伍奋力拼搏,表现出色。

zhè zhī duì wǔ fèn lì pīn bó, , biǎo xiàn chū。

The team fought hard and gave a good account of themselves.
3
他仍在医院与死神搏斗。

tā réng zài yī yuàn yǔ sǐ shén bó dǒu。

He is still fighting for his life in hospital.
4
我们决定搏上一搏,结果赢了,真是令人心花怒放。

wǒ mén jué dìng bó shàng yī bó, , jié guǒ yíng, le , zhēn shì líng rén xīn huā。

We took a chance and we've won. It's very gratifying.
5
她患上严重的心脏病后安装了心脏起搏器。

tā huàn shàng yán zhòng de xīn zāng bìng hòu ān zhuāng le xīn zāng qǐ bó qì。

She was fitted with a pacemaker after suffering serious heart trouble.
6
他的情况很危急,正在医院里与死神搏斗。

tā de qíng kuàng hěn wēi jí, , zhèng zài yī yuàn lǐ yǔ sǐ shén bó。

He was in a critical condition, fighting for his life in hospital.
7
双方搏斗多时, 不分胜负.

shuāng fāng bó dǒu duō shí, , bù fēn shèng.

Both parties combated hand - to - hand for a long time, but neither side could win yet.
8
假如我分有你的脉搏, 仅仅不如你那么自由, 哦,无法约束的生命!

jiǎ rú wǒ fēn yǒu nǐ de mài bó, , jǐn jǐn bù rú nǐ nà mó zì, yóu, , ó , wú fǎ yuē shù!

" The impulse of thy strength, only less free Than thou, 0 Uncontrollable! "
9
彼得森突然发现自己身陷一场殊死搏斗中。

bǐ dé sēn tū rán fā xiàn zì jǐ shēn xiàn yī cháng shū sǐ bó dǒu zhōng。

Peterson suddenly found himself in the thick of desperate fighting.
10
他在激烈的肉搏战中被打断了两根肋骨。

tā zài jī liè de ròu bó zhàn zhōng bèi dǎ duàn le liǎng gēn lèi gǔ。

He suffered two broken ribs in a fierce hand-to-hand battle.
11
勇士们为了胜利而搏。

Yǒngshìmen wèi le shènglì ér bó.

The warriors fight for victory.
12
他鼓起勇气去搏。

Tā gǔqǐ yǒngqì qù bó.

He gathers his courage to fight.
13
他们在赛场上拼命搏。

Tāmen zài sàichǎng shàng pīnmìng bó.

They fight desperately on the field.
14
我们要为梦想而搏。

Wǒmen yào wèi mèngxiǎng ér bó.

We must fight for our dreams.
15
小明为了保护朋友而搏斗。

Xiǎo Míng wèile bǎohù péngyǒu ér bódòu.

Xiao Ming fought to protect his friend.
16
他在比赛中全力以赴去搏。

Tā zài bǐsài zhōng quánlì yǐ fù qù bó.

He fought with all his strength in the competition.

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Cultural Notes for 搏

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

While 'to fight' is a universal concept in both cultures, the Chinese perspective often emphasizes honor and skill in combat, reflecting a philosophical approach to martial arts, whereas Western cultures may focus more on the physicality of fighting.

Word Family of 搏

Words Containing This Character12
搏bóto fight
脉搏màibópulse (both medical and figurative)脈搏
拼搏pīnbóto struggle
搏斗bódòuto wrestle搏鬥
搏击to wrestle搏擊
搏动to throb搏動
搏杀fighting搏殺
起搏器artificial pacemaker
肉搏战hand-to-hand combat肉搏戰
心搏heartbeat
搏战to fight搏戰
厮搏to tussle廝搏
Exercise 1 of 4

Words with 搏

What does 脉搏 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 搏

搏 (bó) often implies a struggle or combat, particularly in martial contexts, while 打 (dǎ) is more general and can refer to hitting or striking.

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