HSK 3, n, 11 strokes, radical 舟, rank #739, Medium
chuán(chuan2)chuan T2
1ship, boat, vessel
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
船(舩)chuán(chuan2)
The character 船 (chuán) refers to a ship, boat, or vessel used for navigating water. It is commonly used in both casual and formal contexts, such as discussing transportation, fishing, or travel. The nuance of this term encompasses various types of watercraft, from small boats to large ships.
Strokes11Radical舟Frequency#739DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, rivers and waterways have historically played a crucial role in trade and transportation. The character 船 reflects this significance, as many cities have relied on boats for commerce and daily life, especially in regions with extensive river systems.
Memory Tip
Imagine a boat (船) sailing smoothly on water. The character 船 resembles a boat with its hull (the bottom part) and sails (the top part), helping you remember that it means 'boat' or 'ship.' The pronunciation 'chuán' can be linked to the sound of a boat's horn, signaling its presence on the water.
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 船
Quick Contrast
舟 (zhōu) refers specifically to a smaller boat or craft, while 船 (chuán) can refer to both small and large vessels.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 船 (chuán) with similar-sounding words that have different meanings. It is used in both formal and informal contexts, but it is essential to use the correct measure word when counting boats, which is '艘' (sōu). For example, '一艘船' (yī sōu chuán) means 'one boat.'
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 3 word, 船 connects to other transportation-related vocabulary. Focus on how it can be combined with other words, such as '船票' (chuánpiào) for 'boat ticket' or '船长' (chuánzhǎng) for 'ship captain.' Familiarizing yourself with these collocations will enhance your fluency.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use 船 with the wrong measure word, such as saying '一船' instead of '一艘船.' Remember, always use '艘' to count boats.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 船
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 船 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 船 through them.
Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 300 AI credits.
How Well Do You Know 船?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 船 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
The character 船 (chuán) refers to a ship, boat, or vessel used for navigating water. It is commonly used in both casual and formal contexts, such as discussing transportation, fishing, or travel. The nuance of this term encompasses various types of watercraft, from small boats to large ships.
When to use 船
Be careful not to confuse 船 (chuán) with similar-sounding words that have different meanings. It is used in both formal and informal contexts, but it is essential to use the correct measure word when counting boats, which is '艘' (sōu). For example, '一艘船' (yī sōu chuán) means 'one boat.'
船 or something close to it
舟 (zhōu) refers specifically to a smaller boat or craft, while 船 (chuán) can refer to both small and large vessels.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mistakenly use 船 with the wrong measure word, such as saying '一船' instead of '一艘船.' Remember, always use '艘' to count boats.
Write 船
船
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 船 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
Grammar Patterns of 船
船 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.
船 (chuán) generally refers to any type of boat or ship, while 船舶 (chuánbó) specifically refers to larger vessels or ships used for commercial purposes. While they can be used interchangeably in casual conversation, 船舶 is more formal and is often used in nautical contexts.
船 is pronounced as 'chuán' in Mandarin. The 'ch' is pronounced similar to 'ch' in 'cheap,' and the 'uán' sounds like 'wahn' with a rising tone. Practicing with native speakers can help improve your pronunciation.
船 (chuán) means 'ship' or 'boat' in Chinese. It refers to any type of vessel used for transportation on water. This character is commonly used in various contexts related to travel and transport at sea.
To use 船 in a sentence, you can say something like '这艘船很大' (Zhè sōu chuán hěn dà), which translates to 'This ship is very big.' You can also combine it with other words, such as '渔船' (yú chuán), meaning 'fishing boat.'
The pronunciation is 'chuán', with a rising tone.
The measure word for boats is '艘' (sōu).
Yes, 船 can refer to various types of watercraft, but it is commonly understood as a boat or ship.
Jason Recommends
Not sure what to learn after 船?
Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.
A sample week, replayed. Every page you study lands here in the order you did it — your own replay starts with a free account.
