Meanings of 砲
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About 砲
Podcast: 砲
Podcast: 砲
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AI Study Notes for 砲
Be mindful of the context when using 砲, as it is more formal and specific to military terminology. Common collocations include 砲兵 (pàobīng - artillery) and 砲火 (pàohuǒ - gunfire). Avoid confusing it with other characters that sound similar but have different meanings, such as 炮 (páo), which can also mean 'firecracker.'
Although 砲 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary list, it connects with other military and weapon-related terms you may encounter in advanced studies. Focus on recognizing its usage in texts discussing military history or technology.
Learners often confuse 砲 (pào) with 炮 (páo), the latter meaning 'firecracker' or 'to fire.' A common error is using 砲 in a casual context where 炮 would be more appropriate, such as saying '我喜欢炮' (Wǒ xǐhuān pào - I like guns), which would sound odd unless discussing military topics.
Pronunciation of 砲
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Etymology of 砲
Phonosemantic compound. 火 represents the meaning and 包 represents the sound. Simplified form of 砲.
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Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 砲
Phonosemantic compound. 火 represents the meaning and 包 represents the sound. Simplified form of 砲.
- 1The meaning half石 carries the sense.
- 2The sound half包 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
- 3The giveawaystone
- 4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 砲? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
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Decomposition of 砲
Identify the Components
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How to say gun, cannon in Chinese
“gun, cannon” in Chinese is砲
The character 砲 (pào) refers to a gun or cannon, typically associated with artillery and heavy weaponry. It is commonly used in military contexts and discussions about weaponry, as well as in historical texts regarding warfare.
When to use 砲
Be mindful of the context when using 砲, as it is more formal and specific to military terminology. Common collocations include 砲兵 (pàobīng - artillery) and 砲火 (pàohuǒ - gunfire). Avoid confusing it with other characters that sound similar but have different meanings, such as 炮 (páo), which can also mean 'firecracker.'
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 砲 (pào) with 炮 (páo), the latter meaning 'firecracker' or 'to fire.' A common error is using 砲 in a casual context where 炮 would be more appropriate, such as saying '我喜欢炮' (Wǒ xǐhuān pào - I like guns), which would sound odd unless discussing military topics.
Write 砲
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Word Family of 砲
Compound Meaning
What does 炮 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 砲
It is pronounced as 'pào', with a falling tone.
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