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March 24, 2026
玻bō(bo1)
The character 玻 (bō) means 'glass' and is commonly used in contexts relating to objects made of glass, such as windows or drinking vessels. It can also be found in compound words that describe glass products or materials, emphasizing its role in everyday life.
Strokes9Radical王Frequency#11108DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, glass is often associated with modernity and transparency, particularly in urban architecture. The use of glass in buildings symbolizes openness and progress, reflecting the rapid development of cities in China.
Memory Tip
Imagine a large, shiny piece of glass reflecting the sun. The character 玻 has a component resembling a piece of glass with its sharp edges (these are the 'tiles' on a roof). Picture 'bō' as the sound made when a glass object is placed down gently - this will help you remember both the pronunciation and meaning.
Meanings of 玻
bō(bo1)
1glass
Exercise 1 of 3
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 玻
玻Simplified
9Strokes
王Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#11108Frequency Rank
Podcast: 玻
Podcast: 玻
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AI Study Notes for 玻
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a large, shiny piece of glass reflecting the sun. The character 玻 has a component resembling a piece of glass with its sharp edges (these are the 'tiles' on a roof). Picture 'bō' as the sound made when a glass object is placed down gently - this will help you remember both the pronunciation and meaning.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 玻 (bō) with similar characters, such as 瓦 (wǎ) which means 'tile'. 玻 is typically used in both formal and informal contexts but is more common in everyday language. Collocations include 玻璃杯 (bōlí bēi) meaning 'glass cup' and 玻璃窗 (bōlí chuāng) meaning 'glass window'.
HSK Study Tips
Although 玻 (bō) is not officially in the HSK vocabulary list, it aligns with HSK 3 concepts like materials and objects. Focus on learning related vocabulary, such as 玻璃 (bōlí), which means 'glass' in a broader sense, to enhance your understanding.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, glass is often associated with modernity and transparency, particularly in urban architecture. The use of glass in buildings symbolizes openness and progress, reflecting the rapid development of cities in China.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 玻 (bō) with 玻璃 (bōlí), mistakenly using one instead of the other. Remember, 玻 is the character for 'glass,' while 玻璃 is the word for 'glass' as a material or item.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 玻
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Grammar Patterns of 玻
玻 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). The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
需要保护你的手臂和双腿免受____璃反射光线的照射。
Your arms and legs need protection from light bouncing off glass.
The building is impeccably modernist: glass, aluminium and grey.
7
在半玻璃杯水里面加上几滴。
zài bàn bō lí bēi shuǐ lǐ miàn jiā shàng jī dī。
Add a few drops to half a tumbler of water.
8
突如其来的一声巨响在建筑物间回荡着，震碎了玻璃。
tū rú qí lái de yī shēng jù xiǎng zài jiàn zhù wù jiān huí dàng zháo， ， zhèn suì le bō。
The bang came suddenly, echoing across the buildings, shattering glass.
9
有一点白兰地溢出了玻璃杯。
yǒu yī diǎn bái lán dì yì chū le bō lí bēi。
A little cognac slopped over the edge of the glass.
10
有玻璃门通到这个阳台。
yǒu bō lí mén tōng dào zhè gè yáng tái。
There were glass doors leading on to this balcony.
Cultural Notes for 玻
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, glass is often associated with modernity and transparency, particularly in urban architecture. The use of glass in buildings symbolizes openness and progress, reflecting the rapid development of cities in China.
Word Family of 玻
Words Containing This Character16
玻璃bōliglass
玻bōglass
玻利维亚Bolivia玻利維亞
玻璃杯drinking glass
玻璃体vitreous humor玻璃體
挡风玻璃windshield擋風玻璃
玻璃纤维fiberglass玻璃纖維
窗玻璃window pane
钢化玻璃reinforced glass鋼化玻璃
玻璃纸cellophane玻璃紙
玻璃钢fiberglass玻璃鋼
有机玻璃plexiglass有機玻璃
玻片glass slide for medical sample
玻璃化vitrification
毛玻璃frosted glass
玻璃罩glass cover
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 玻璃 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 玻
Common words include 玻璃 (bōlí) meaning 'glass' and 玻璃瓶 (bōlí píng) meaning 'glass bottle'.
It is pronounced as 'bō' with a high level tone.
Yes, it can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but it's more frequently encountered in casual conversation.
