HSK 7, n, 9 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #27237, Very Hard
胞
bāo
womb
HSK 7, n, 9 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #27237, Very Hard
胞
bāo
born of the same parents
HSK 7, n, 9 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #27237, Very Hard
胞
bāo
womb, placenta, fetal membrane
HSK 7, n, 9 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #27237, Very Hard
bāo(bao1) T1
1placenta
2womb
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March 24, 2026
胞bāo(bao1)
The character 胞 (bāo) primarily refers to biological terms such as 'placenta' and 'womb'. It can also denote the concept of being 'born of the same parents', emphasizing familial connections. This term is often used in medical contexts or discussions about birth and maternity.
Strokes9Radical⺼Frequency#27237DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of family and birth is deeply valued, and 胞 carries connotations of health and life. The placenta is often viewed as a protective element for the baby, symbolizing the nurturing aspect of motherhood.
Memory Tip
Imagine a 'bag' (the shape of 胞) that holds a baby before it is born. The 'b' sound in 'bag' connects to the 'b' in bāo, reminding you that this 'bag' is the womb or placenta where life begins.
Meanings of 胞
bāo(bao1)
1placenta
2womb
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 胞
胞Simplified
9Strokes
⺼Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#27237Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7
Podcast: 胞
Podcast: 胞
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AI Study Notes for 胞
Usage Notes
When using 胞, it’s important to be aware of the context, as it can sometimes be used in medical discussions or more intimate familial contexts. A common mistake is confusing it with similar-sounding characters; for example, don't confuse 胞 with 包 (bāo), which means 'to wrap'.
HSK Study Tips
Though not in the HSK vocabulary lists, 胞 is useful for learners familiar with biological terms. Students should focus on its application in medical contexts and its composition, which includes the radical for 'body' (肉), indicating its biological relevance.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 胞 (bāo) with 包 (bāo), leading to incorrect usage in sentences. For example, saying '我喜欢胞' (wǒ xǐhuān bāo) instead of '我喜欢包' (wǒ xǐhuān bāo) changes the meaning entirely from 'I like the placenta' to 'I like the bag'.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 胞
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Phonosemantic compound. ⺼ represents the meaning and 包 represents the sound.
1The meaning half⺼ carries the sense.
2The sound half包 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawayflesh
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 胞? 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 胞?
Decomposition of 胞
IDS Structure⿰⺼包
胞Full Character
=
⺼rou4
left
包Bao1
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 胞?
How to say placenta in Chinese
“placenta” in Chinese is胞bāo
The character 胞 (bāo) primarily refers to biological terms such as 'placenta' and 'womb'. It can also denote the concept of being 'born of the same parents', emphasizing familial connections. This term is often used in medical contexts or discussions about birth and maternity.
When to use 胞
When using 胞, it’s important to be aware of the context, as it can sometimes be used in medical discussions or more intimate familial contexts. A common mistake is confusing it with similar-sounding characters; for example, don't confuse 胞 with 包 (bāo), which means 'to wrap'.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 胞 (bāo) with 包 (bāo), leading to incorrect usage in sentences. For example, saying '我喜欢胞' (wǒ xǐhuān bāo) instead of '我喜欢包' (wǒ xǐhuān bāo) changes the meaning entirely from 'I like the placenta' to 'I like the bag'.
Write 胞
胞
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Practice writing 胞 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 胞
胞 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 4 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
Complete the Sentence
如果受到损伤，神经细____再造的能力有限。
Nerve cells have limited ability to regenerate if destroyed.
