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博 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
博bóextensiveHSK 4, nr, 12 strokes, radical 十, rank #3542, Medium
博bóampleHSK 4, nr, 12 strokes, radical 十, rank #3542, Medium
博bórichHSK 4, nr, 12 strokes, radical 十, rank #3542, Medium
博bóobtainHSK 4, nr, 12 strokes, radical 十, rank #3542, Medium
博bóaimHSK 4, nr, 12 strokes, radical 十, rank #3542, Medium
博bóto winHSK 4, nr, 12 strokes, radical 十, rank #3542, Medium
博bóto getHSK 4, nr, 12 strokes, radical 十, rank #3542, Medium
博bóplentifulHSK 4, nr, 12 strokes, radical 十, rank #3542, Medium
博bóto gambleHSK 4, nr, 12 strokes, radical 十, rank #3542, Medium
博bóto gamble, to play games; to win; rich, plentiful, extensive; wide, broadHSK 4, nr, 12 strokes, radical 十, rank #3542, Medium
博bóold variant of 博[bó]HSK 4, nr, 12 strokes, radical 十, rank #3542, Medium
bó(bo2)bo T2
  1. 1extensive
  2. 2ample
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March 24, 2026

博bó(bo2)

The character 博 (bó) means extensive or ample, often used to describe a vast amount of knowledge or richness. It can also refer to gaining something, such as winning a game or obtaining a reward. In a broader sense, it conveys the idea of abundance or wide-ranging qualities.

Strokes12Radical十Frequency#3542DifficultyMedium
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, the value of knowledge and education is highly esteemed, and the character 博 often appears in academic settings, symbolizing the pursuit of extensive learning.

Memory tip

Think of 博 (bó) as a scholar with a wide-brimmed hat, symbolizing a wealth of knowledge. The character's form combines the 'rich' radical and a hint of 'broadness', reminding you that someone who knows much has a 'broad' mind.

Meanings of 博

bó(bo2)
1extensive
2ample
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 博 means.

About 博

博Simplified
12Strokes
十Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#3542Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L4

Podcast: 博

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Podcast: 博

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AI study notes for 博

Quick Contrast

广 (guǎng) - use 博 (bó) when emphasizing depth of knowledge or richness, whereas 广 (guǎng) focuses more on physical space or extent.

Usage Notes

博 is typically used in both formal and informal contexts, but is often found in academic or literary language. Common collocations include 博学 (bóxué, knowledgeable) and 博士 (bóshì, doctor). Be careful with tone, as mispronouncing it could lead to confusion with other characters.

HSK Study Tips

博 is not part of the official HSK levels, but it’s useful for learners at HSK 4 and above. Focus on its usage in contexts of knowledge and achievement, as well as its role in compound words.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 博 with 知 (zhī, to know), using it incorrectly in contexts that only require a simple acknowledgment of knowledge. For example, saying '我博你' instead of '我知道你' (I know you) is incorrect.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 博

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Etymology of 博

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

Phonosemantic compound. 十 represents the meaning and 尃 represents the sound.

Memory hint

ten

Semantic (meaning)十
+
Phonetic (sound)尃
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

博 = 十 + 尃. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 博

IDS Structure⿰十尃
博Full character
=
十shi2
left
尃fu1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 博?

How to say extensive in Chinese

“extensive” in Chinese is博bó

The character 博 (bó) means extensive or ample, often used to describe a vast amount of knowledge or richness. It can also refer to gaining something, such as winning a game or obtaining a reward. In a broader sense, it conveys the idea of abundance or wide-ranging qualities.

When to use 博

博 is typically used in both formal and informal contexts, but is often found in academic or literary language. Common collocations include 博学 (bóxué, knowledgeable) and 博士 (bóshì, doctor). Be careful with tone, as mispronouncing it could lead to confusion with other characters.

博 or something close to it

广 (guǎng) - use 博 (bó) when emphasizing depth of knowledge or richness, whereas 广 (guǎng) focuses more on physical space or extent.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 博 with 知 (zhī, to know), using it incorrectly in contexts that only require a simple acknowledgment of knowledge. For example, saying '我博你' instead of '我知道你' (I know you) is incorrect.

Write 博

博

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

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Grammar patterns of 博

博 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 11 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 1

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

现在他还想去报____士班继续在中国工作。

Now he also wants to enroll in a doctoral program to continue working in China.

Example sentences for 博 (12)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
nrextensive10
1
蒙博托出身行伍,通过一级级晋升,最终成为了陆军司令。

mēng bó tuō chūshēn xíng Wǔ, tōngguò yī jí jí jìnshēng, zuìzhōng chéngwéi le lùjūn sīlìng。

Mobutu ascended through the ranks, eventually becoming commander of the army.
2
这真是一段精彩绝伦的舞蹈表演,每次总是博得全场喝彩。

zhè zhēnshi yī duàn jīngcǎi jué lún de wǔdǎo biǎoyǎn, měi cì zǒngshì bó de quánchǎng hècǎi。

It's really an amazing dance. It just always brings the house down.
3
瑞安博士周游世界为他的书搜集资料。

ruì Ān bóshì zhōu yóu shìjiè wèi tā de shū sōují zīliào。

Dr Ryan travelled the world gathering material for his book.
4
就在那时,博物馆陷入了一片漆黑。

jiù zài nà shí, bówùguǎn xiànrù le yī piàn qīhēi。

At that instant the museum was plunged into total darkness.
5
普利茅斯海洋研究所的科学家一半有学士学位,另一半则有博士学位。

pǔ lì máo Sī hǎiyáng yánjiūsuǒ de kēxué jiā yíbàn yǒu xuéshì xuéwèi, lìng yíbàn zé yǒu bóshì xuéwèi。

Half of PML's scientists have first degrees, the other half have PhDs.
6
我们有一位见识广博的导游乔治·亚当斯。

wǒmen yǒu yī wèi jiànshi guǎng bó de dǎoyóu qiáo zhì· yà dāng Sī。

We had a knowledgeable guide in the person of George Adams.
7
几个月来马尔科姆一直想参观巴黎的艺术博物馆。

jǐ gè yuè lái mǎ ěr kē mǔ yìzhí xiǎng cānguān Bā lí de yìshù bówùguǎn。

For months Malcolm had wanted to visit the Parisian art museums.
8
欢迎回来,德博拉,有你在这儿真好。

huānyíng huílái, dé bó lā, yǒu nǐ zài zhèr zhēn hǎo。

Welcome back, Deborah—It's good to have you here.
9
几个在场的人,包括温博格,所掌握的信息截然不同。

jǐ gè zàichǎng de rén, bāokuò Wēn bó gé, suǒ zhǎngwò de xìnxī jiéránbùtóng。

Several of those present, including Weinberger, had contrary information.
10
负责寻找志愿者的人是查尔斯·韦伯博士。

fùzé xúnzhǎo zhìyuànzhě de rén shì chá ěr Sī· wéi bà bóshì。

The man responsible for finding the volunteers is Dr. Charles Weber.
nrample2
11
他的知识非常博,可以解答各种问题。

Tā de zhīshì fēicháng bó, kěyǐ jiědá gèzhǒng wèntí.

His knowledge is very ample and can answer various questions.
12
这本书内容博,涉及了许多不同的领域。

Zhè běn shū nèiróng bó, shèjíle xǔduō bùtóng de lǐngyù.

This book has ample content, covering many different fields.

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Cultural Notes for 博

💡Did you know?

The character '博' is often associated with scholarship and learning in Chinese culture. It reflects the importance of knowledge and education, much revered in Confucian philosophy.

Word Family of 博

Words containing this character20
博bóample
博士bóshìdoctor
博物馆bówùguǎnmuseum博物館
赌博dǔbóto gamble賭博
博文bówénblog article
博客bókèweblog
博览会bólǎnhuìexposition博覽會
博得bódéto win
博弈bóyìgambling
博爱bó’àiuniversal love博愛
博士学位bóshìxuéwèiPhD博士學位
博尔顿bó’ěrdùnBolton (name)博爾頓
博学bóxuélearned博學
博士后bóshìhòupostdoc博士後
博大bódàenormous
渊博yuānbóerudite淵博
博览bólǎnto read extensively博覽
淄博zībóZibo, prefecture level city in Shandong
博取bóqǔto win (favors, confidence etc)
博彩bócǎilottery
Exercise 1 of 4

Words with 博

What does 博士 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 博

Synonyms for 博 (bó) include 广 (guǎng), meaning broad or wide, and 丰富 (fēngfù), meaning rich or abundant. These words carry similar meanings but may differ slightly based on the context in which they are used.

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