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舷 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
舷xiánbulwarks, gunwhaleng, 11 strokes, radical 舟, rank #9854, Very Hard
舷xiánside of a ship or an aircraftunknown, 11 strokes, radical 舟, rank #9854, Very Hard
xián(xian2)xian T2
  1. 1bulwarks, gunwhale
  2. 2side of a ship or an aircraft
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March 24, 2026

舷xián(xian2)

The character 舷 (xián) refers specifically to the sides of a ship or aircraft, commonly known as bulwarks or gunwales. It is often used in nautical or aviation contexts to describe the structural elements that provide support and safety on the sides of vessels or planes.

Strokes11Radical舟Frequency#9854DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese maritime history, the construction of ships with sturdy bulwarks has been essential for safety during long voyages, reflecting the importance of navigation and trade in Chinese culture.

Memory tip

Imagine a ship with high sides (舷) that protect passengers from falling overboard. The character resembles a ship's side, with the radical 舟 (boat) on the left, which can help you remember its meaning relates to vessels.

Meanings of 舷

xián(xian2)
1bulwarks, gunwhale
2side of a ship or an aircraft
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 舷

舷Simplified
11Strokes
舟Radical
名语素míngcínoun root (n.root)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 舷

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Podcast: 舷

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AI study notes for 舷

Usage Notes

Be cautious not to confuse 舷 with similar terms related to ships, like 船 (chuán), which means 'boat' or 'ship' itself. This term is more formal and typically used in technical or maritime discussions.

HSK Study Tips

Although 舷 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it connects with other maritime terms that might be encountered in specialized contexts. Focus on recognizing it in readings or discussions related to shipping or aviation.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 舷 with 船 and mistakenly use it to refer to a ship as a whole rather than its sides. For example, saying '我喜欢这艘舷' (I like this side of the ship) instead of '我喜欢这艘船' (I like this ship) is incorrect.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 舷

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Etymology of 舷

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

ship

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

Origin

舷 = 舟 + 玄. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 舷

IDS Structure⿰舟玄
舷Full character
=
舟zhou1
left
玄xuan2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 舷?

How to say bulwarks, gunwhale in Chinese

“bulwarks, gunwhale” in Chinese is舷xián

The character 舷 (xián) refers specifically to the sides of a ship or aircraft, commonly known as bulwarks or gunwales. It is often used in nautical or aviation contexts to describe the structural elements that provide support and safety on the sides of vessels or planes.

When to use 舷

Be cautious not to confuse 舷 with similar terms related to ships, like 船 (chuán), which means 'boat' or 'ship' itself. This term is more formal and typically used in technical or maritime discussions.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 舷 with 船 and mistakenly use it to refer to a ship as a whole rather than its sides. For example, saying '我喜欢这艘舷' (I like this side of the ship) instead of '我喜欢这艘船' (I like this ship) is incorrect.

Write 舷

舷

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

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Grammar patterns of 舷

舷 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 2 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.

这艘船的注册编号刻在前舱的左____上。

Her official number is carved on the port side of the forecabin.

Example sentences for 舷 (7)

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1
这艘船的注册编号刻在前舱的左舷上。

zhè sōu chuán de zhùcè biānhào kè zài qián cāng de zuǒ xián shàng。

Her official number is carved on the port side of the forecabin.
2
舷梯上许多人上上下下。

xián tī shàng xǔduō rén shàng shàngxià xià。

There's a lot of rushing up and down the gangways.
3
浪很高, 船的舷侧开始进水.

làng hěn gāo, chuán de xián cè kāishǐ jìn shuǐ.

The waves were very high, and the boat began to ship water.
4
由于某些原因,飞行员在降落失败后总喜欢折向左舷.

yóuyú mǒu xiē yuányīn, fēixíngyuán zài jiàngluò shībài hòu zǒng xǐhuan shé xiàng zuǒ xián.

For some reason pilots prefer to turn to port if they made a faulty landing.
5
我们正右舷抢风行驶.

wǒmen zhèng yòu xián qiǎng fēng xíngshǐ.

We were sailing on starboard tack.
6
“ 右舷后退, 叮 —— 啊铃 —— 铃!

“ yòu xián hòutuì, dīng —— a líng —— líng!

'set her back on the stabboard ! Ting - a - ling - ling!
7
阳光从舷窗外面直射进来, 使外边那间气象堂皇的舱房十分轩敞.

yángguāng cóng xián chuāngwài miàn zhí shè jìnlái, shǐ wàibian nà jiān qìxiàng táng huáng de cāng fáng shífēn xuān chǎng.

Sunlight streamed through the portholes, brightening the impressive outer cabin.

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Word Family of 舷

Words containing this character3
舷xiánside of a ship or an aircraft
船舷sides of a ship
舷梯gangway
Exercise 1 of 2

Words with 舷

What does 船舷 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 舷

舷 refers specifically to the sides of a ship or aircraft, while 船 means 'boat' or 'ship' in general.

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