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蔔 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
蔔bóradish; root vegetableszg, 15 strokes, radical 艹
bó(bo2)bo T2
  1. 1radish; root vegetables
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March 24, 2026

蔔bó(bo2)

The character 蔔 (bó) refers specifically to radishes, a type of root vegetable commonly used in various dishes across Chinese cuisine. It can also refer more broadly to other root vegetables, indicating its use in both cooking and agricultural contexts.

Strokes15Radical艹
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, radishes often symbolize prosperity and are a staple in various traditional dishes, especially during festivals and celebrations. They are commonly featured in pickled forms and served during the Lunar New Year.

Memory Tip

Imagine a big, white radish standing upright, with a bow (the pronunciation 'bó') on top of it, as it proudly announces its role in the vegetable kingdom. The components of the character, with the 'plant' radical on the left, suggest its botanical nature, while the right part can remind you of 'boasting' about its nutritious qualities.

Meanings of 蔔

bó(bo2)
1radish; root vegetables
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 蔔

蔔Simplified
15Strokes
艹Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 蔔

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Podcast: 蔔

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AI Study Notes for 蔔

Usage Notes

When using 蔔, ensure you distinguish it from other similar root vegetables by context. It is more commonly used in informal settings or conversations about food, so avoid using it in overly formal contexts. A common collocation is '白蔔' (bái bó), meaning white radish.

HSK Study Tips

Although 蔔 is not part of the HSK vocabulary lists, understanding this character can enhance your comprehension of food-related vocabulary. Focus on its usage in phrases and alongside other food words to build your culinary lexicon.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 蔔 with other similar characters, such as 胡萝卜 (húluóbo), which means carrot. Remember that 蔔 specifically refers to radishes, while 胡萝卜 is for carrots.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 蔔

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Etymology of 蔔

Formation TypeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Explanation

Pictograph of a crack on a bone. In ancient China such cracks were used for divination.

Memory Hint

Vegetables 艹 that are buried in the ground 匐; 匐 also provides the pronunciation

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

What kind of character is 蔔?

Decomposition of 蔔

IDS Structure⿱艹匐
蔔Full Character
=
艹cao3
top
匐fu2
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 蔔?

How to say radish; root vegetables in Chinese

“radish; root vegetables” in Chinese is蔔bó

The character 蔔 (bó) refers specifically to radishes, a type of root vegetable commonly used in various dishes across Chinese cuisine. It can also refer more broadly to other root vegetables, indicating its use in both cooking and agricultural contexts.

When to use 蔔

When using 蔔, ensure you distinguish it from other similar root vegetables by context. It is more commonly used in informal settings or conversations about food, so avoid using it in overly formal contexts. A common collocation is '白蔔' (bái bó), meaning white radish.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 蔔 with other similar characters, such as 胡萝卜 (húluóbo), which means carrot. Remember that 蔔 specifically refers to radishes, while 胡萝卜 is for carrots.

Write 蔔

蔔

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

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Word Family of 蔔

Words Containing This Character14
胡萝卜carrot胡蘿蔔
卜CL:條|条[tiáo]蔔
萝卜luóboCL:條|条[tiáo]蘿蔔
占卜zhānbǔto divine
胡萝卜素carotene胡蘿蔔素
红萝卜carrot紅蘿蔔
阿卜杜拉Abdullah (name)
吉卜赛人Gypsy吉卜賽人
易卜生Henrik Ibsen (1828-1906), Norwegian dramatist, author of Doll's House 玩偶之家
未卜not foreseen
卜辞oracle inscriptions of the Shang Dynasty (16th-11th century BC) on tortoiseshells or animal bones卜辭
未卜先知predictable
小萝卜头(coll.) little kid小蘿蔔頭
卜卦fortune telling
Exercise 1 of 4

Words with 蔔

What does 胡萝卜 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 蔔

No, 蔔 specifically refers to radishes, while 大白菜 refers to Chinese cabbage. They are different types of vegetables.

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