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艚 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
艚cáoship, junkg, 17 strokes, radical 舟
艚cáosea-going junkunknown, 17 strokes, radical 舟
cáo(cao2) T2
  1. 1ship, junk
  2. 2sea-going junk
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

艚cáo(cao2)

The character 艚 (cáo) refers to a traditional type of Chinese ship, specifically a junk that is used for sea travel. These vessels are often characterized by their flat bottoms and high sails, making them suitable for navigating shallow waters. This term is commonly used in maritime contexts and is associated with China's rich seafaring history.

Strokes17Radical舟
Cultural Note

The junk is an iconic symbol of China's maritime history, often depicted in art and literature, representing trade, exploration, and cultural exchange along the coasts and rivers of China. Understanding this character can enhance one's appreciation for traditional Chinese shipbuilding techniques.

Memory Tip

Imagine a large ship sailing across the sea, and visualize the character 艚 as a boat with its sails up. The sound 'cáo' can remind you of the waves crashing against the hull of a junk, making it easier to remember its meaning as a sea-going vessel.

Meanings of 艚

cáo(cao2)
1ship, junk
2sea-going junk
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 艚

艚Simplified
17Strokes
舟Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 艚

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Podcast: 艚

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AI Study Notes for 艚

Usage Notes

When using 艚, it's important to note that it is more formal and specific to maritime contexts, so using it in casual conversation about boats might sound odd. Common collocations include phrases like '海上艚' (sea junk) or '传统艚' (traditional junk). Be careful with the tone, as a mispronunciation can change the meaning altogether.

HSK Study Tips

Although 艚 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it can be connected to other HSK words related to water and transportation, such as 船 (chuán, boat) and 海 (hǎi, sea). Students should focus on recognizing the components of the character, as it shares radicals with other water-related terms.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 艚 with 船 (chuán), using them interchangeably despite their specific meanings. For example, saying '我有一艚' (Wǒ yǒu yī cáo) instead of '我有一艘船' (Wǒ yǒu yī sōu chuán) can lead to misunderstandings.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 艚

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Etymology of 艚

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

ship

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 艚

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

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

Want the full history of 艚? 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 艚?

Decomposition of 艚

IDS Structure⿰舟曹
艚Full Character
=
舟zhou1
left
曹Cao2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 艚?

How to say ship, junk in Chinese

“ship, junk” in Chinese is艚cáo

The character 艚 (cáo) refers to a traditional type of Chinese ship, specifically a junk that is used for sea travel. These vessels are often characterized by their flat bottoms and high sails, making them suitable for navigating shallow waters. This term is commonly used in maritime contexts and is associated with China's rich seafaring history.

When to use 艚

When using 艚, it's important to note that it is more formal and specific to maritime contexts, so using it in casual conversation about boats might sound odd. Common collocations include phrases like '海上艚' (sea junk) or '传统艚' (traditional junk). Be careful with the tone, as a mispronunciation can change the meaning altogether.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 艚 with 船 (chuán), using them interchangeably despite their specific meanings. For example, saying '我有一艚' (Wǒ yǒu yī cáo) instead of '我有一艘船' (Wǒ yǒu yī sōu chuán) can lead to misunderstandings.

Write 艚

艚

Practice writing 艚 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 艚

Words Containing This Character1
艚cáoseagoing junk
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 艚 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 艚

It represents a traditional type of ship, specifically a sea-going junk, and is less commonly used in everyday language.

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