Meanings of 雹
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About 雹
Podcast: 雹
Podcast: 雹
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AI Study Notes for 雹
冰雹 (bīng báo) vs 雹 (báo) — use 冰雹 when specifically referring to hail as ice pellets, while 雹 can refer to hail in a broader sense.
Be careful not to confuse 雹 (báo) with 雨 (yǔ), which means 'rain.' This word is generally used in a more formal or literary context when discussing weather phenomena. Common collocations include 'hailstorm' (雹暴) and 'hail damage' (雹害).
Although 雹 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it is useful for learners at the intermediate level (HSK 3-4) who are expanding their weather-related vocabulary. Focus on the context in which this word appears, especially in news reports about severe weather.
Learners often confuse 雹 with the similar-sounding word 波 (bō), which means 'wave.' A common mistake is saying '波雨' instead of '雹雨' when referring to hail rain. The correct term is '雹雨' (hail rain).
Pronunciation of 雹
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Etymology of 雹
Phonosemantic compound. 雨 represents the meaning and 包 represents the sound.
rain
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 雹
Phonosemantic compound. 雨 represents the meaning and 包 represents the sound.
- 1The meaning half雨 carries the sense.
- 2The sound half包 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
- 3The giveawayrain
- 4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 雹? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 雹?
Decomposition of 雹
Identify the Components
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How to say hail in Chinese
“hail” in Chinese is雹
The character 雹 (báo) refers to hail, which is a form of precipitation consisting of balls or irregular lumps of ice. It typically occurs during thunderstorms and can vary in size, causing damage to crops and property. In conversation, it is often discussed in the context of weather conditions and their impact.
When to use 雹
Be careful not to confuse 雹 (báo) with 雨 (yǔ), which means 'rain.' This word is generally used in a more formal or literary context when discussing weather phenomena. Common collocations include 'hailstorm' (雹暴) and 'hail damage' (雹害).
雹 or something close to it
冰雹 (bīng báo) vs 雹 (báo) — use 冰雹 when specifically referring to hail as ice pellets, while 雹 can refer to hail in a broader sense.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 雹 with the similar-sounding word 波 (bō), which means 'wave.' A common mistake is saying '波雨' instead of '雹雨' when referring to hail rain. The correct term is '雹雨' (hail rain).
Write 雹
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Practice writing 雹 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 雹
雹 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). The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Complete the Sentence
冰____猛落,把玻璃窗也砸破了.
Hail fell with such violence that it broke windows.
Example Sentences for 雹 (1)
Word Family of 雹
Compound Meaning
What does 冰雹 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 雹
It is pronounced as 'báo' with a rising tone.
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