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March 24, 2026
宝(寳)bǎo(bao3)
The character 宝 (bǎo) refers to something precious or valuable, such as jewels, gems, or treasures. It is commonly used to describe items of high worth or to express endearment towards someone, indicating that they are cherished.
Strokes8Radical宀Frequency#2907DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, 宝 (bǎo) is often associated with familial affection, as seen in terms like 宝贝 (bǎobèi), which conveys deep love and value for children or close friends.
Memory Tip
Imagine a sparkling jewel (宝) resting on a treasure chest. The character looks like a crown (the top part) sitting on a treasure (the bottom part), reminding you that it represents something precious.
Meanings of 宝
bǎo(bao3)
1jewel
2gem
Exercise 1 of 3
By ear
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About 宝
宝Simplified
寳Traditional
8Strokes
宀Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#2907Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L5IntermediateTOCFLL4HSKKL2CEFRB1
Podcast: 宝
Podcast: 宝
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AI Study Notes for 宝
Quick Contrast
珍 (zhēn) — use 宝 (bǎo) for items that are treasured or valued, while 珍 (zhēn) emphasizes rarity or uniqueness.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 宝 (bǎo) with similar characters like 珍 (zhēn), which also means precious but has a slightly different nuance. It is used in both formal and informal contexts, but be mindful of its affectionate use when addressing loved ones, such as calling a child '宝贝' (bǎobèi) meaning 'treasure' or 'baby'.
HSK Study Tips
While 宝 (bǎo) is not currently listed in HSK levels, it connects to words like 珍贵 (zhēnguì) meaning 'precious' and 价值 (jiàzhí) meaning 'value'. Focus on understanding its use in both literal and figurative contexts.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes mispronounce 宝 as 'bāo' instead of 'bǎo'. It's important to remember the third tone to convey the correct meaning. Another mistake is using it inappropriately; for example, saying '我宝' (Wǒ bǎo) instead of '我很宝' (Wǒ hěn bǎo) which is incorrect.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 宝
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How Well Do You Know 宝?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 宝 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.
Simplified form of 寶. Pictograph an assortment of valuable things, including jade (玉) and shells (貝), being stored safely under a roof (宀). The 缶 component represents the sound. The traditional component 缶 was removed for simplification. The
The character 宝 (bǎo) refers to something precious or valuable, such as jewels, gems, or treasures. It is commonly used to describe items of high worth or to express endearment towards someone, indicating that they are cherished.
When to use 宝
Learners often confuse 宝 (bǎo) with similar characters like 珍 (zhēn), which also means precious but has a slightly different nuance. It is used in both formal and informal contexts, but be mindful of its affectionate use when addressing loved ones, such as calling a child '宝贝' (bǎobèi) meaning 'treasure' or 'baby'.
宝 or something close to it
珍 (zhēn) — use 宝 (bǎo) for items that are treasured or valued, while 珍 (zhēn) emphasizes rarity or uniqueness.
What learners get wrong
Learners sometimes mispronounce 宝 as 'bāo' instead of 'bǎo'. It's important to remember the third tone to convey the correct meaning. Another mistake is using it inappropriately; for example, saying '我宝' (Wǒ bǎo) instead of '我很宝' (Wǒ hěn bǎo) which is incorrect.
Write 宝
宝
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Grammar Patterns of 宝
宝 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 5 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.
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Word Family of 宝
Words Containing This Character20
宝贝bǎobèitreasure寶貝
宝bǎojewel寶
宝宝bǎobǎodarling寶寶
珠宝zhūbǎopearls珠寶
宝贵bǎoguìvaluable寶貴
宝马BMW (car company)寶馬
温家宝Wen Jiabao (1942-), Premier of PRC from 2003-2013溫家寶
宝石bǎoshígem寶石
宝藏bǎozànghidden treasure寶藏
法宝Buddha's teaching法寶
宝钢Baosteel, China's largest steel maker寶鋼
财宝money and valuables財寶
宝座throne寶座
宝剑(double-edged) sword寶劍
宝物treasure寶物
珍宝a treasure珍寶
大宝Taiho (era)大寶
红宝石ruby紅寶石
国宝guóbǎonational treasure國寶
宝典canonical text寶典
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 宝
What does 宝贝 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 宝
宝 is pronounced as 'bǎo' in Mandarin. The 'b' is pronounced as in 'bat,' while the 'ǎo' has a diphthong sound similar to 'ow' in 'cow' but with a falling tone.
宝 (bǎo) and 寶 (bǎo) are different forms of the same character, with 宝 being the simplified version and 寶 being the traditional version. The meanings are identical, but the usage depends on the context, such as in Mainland China where simplified characters are prevalent.
You can use 宝 (bǎo) in sentences to express the value of something. For example, you might say '这是我的宝贝' (zhè shì wǒ de bǎobèi), meaning 'This is my treasure.' It can also be used in names or terms of endearment.
宝 (bǎo) means 'treasure' or 'precious' in Chinese. It is often used to describe something valued highly, such as a gem or treasured possession. The character is a variant of 寶, which carries similar meanings.
宝贝 (bǎobèi) translates to 'treasure' or 'baby', often used as a term of endearment.
You can say '这是我的宝' (Zhè shì wǒ de bǎo) meaning 'This is my treasure'.
Yes, 宝 can be used in formal contexts, especially in literature or when discussing valuable items.
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