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舭 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
舭bǐbilgex, 10 strokes, radical 舟
bǐ(bi3) T3
  1. 1bilge
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

舭bǐ(bi3)

The character 舭 (bǐ) refers to the bilge of a ship, which is the lowest compartment where water and other unwanted liquids collect. It is a technical term primarily used in nautical contexts, often associated with shipbuilding and maintenance.

Strokes10Radical舟
Cultural Note

The concept of a bilge is essential in traditional Chinese shipbuilding, reflecting the importance of maritime trade in Chinese history, especially during the Tang and Song dynasties when sea routes flourished.

Memory Tip

Imagine a boat that has a big belly (like the belly of a fish) where water collects. The sound 'bǐ' can remind you of 'beach,' where you often find water. Picture a beach boat getting filled up with water in its bilge.

Meanings of 舭

bǐ(bi3)
1bilge
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 舭

舭Simplified
10Strokes
舟Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 舭

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Podcast: 舭

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AI Study Notes for 舭

Usage Notes

This character is quite specialized and may not be commonly used in everyday conversation, so it's important to be mindful of the context when using it. It is typically used in formal or technical discussions about ships. Be careful not to confuse it with other similar-sounding terms.

HSK Study Tips

Since 舭 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it may be beneficial to learn it alongside other maritime terms and characters. Focus on understanding its specific usage in nautical settings as this will help contextualize its meaning.

Common Mistakes

Learners may confuse 舭 (bǐ) with 船 (chuán), which means 'boat' or 'ship.' Remember that 舭 specifically refers to the bilge and not the vessel itself.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 舭

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Etymology of 舭

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

boat

Semantic (meaning)舟
+
Phonetic (sound)比
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 舭

  1. 1The meaning half舟 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half比 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawayboat
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 舭? 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 舭?

Decomposition of 舭

IDS Structure⿰舟比
舭Full Character
=
舟zhou1
left
比Bi3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 舭?

How to say bilge in Chinese

“bilge” in Chinese is舭bǐ

The character 舭 (bǐ) refers to the bilge of a ship, which is the lowest compartment where water and other unwanted liquids collect. It is a technical term primarily used in nautical contexts, often associated with shipbuilding and maintenance.

When to use 舭

This character is quite specialized and may not be commonly used in everyday conversation, so it's important to be mindful of the context when using it. It is typically used in formal or technical discussions about ships. Be careful not to confuse it with other similar-sounding terms.

What learners get wrong

Learners may confuse 舭 (bǐ) with 船 (chuán), which means 'boat' or 'ship.' Remember that 舭 specifically refers to the bilge and not the vessel itself.

Write 舭

舭

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 舭

Words Containing This Character1
舭bǐbilge
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 舭 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 舭

Use the mnemonic that connects 'bǐ' with a boat's belly where water collects.

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