HSK 6, unknown, 15 strokes, radical 舟, rank #1795, Hard
sōu(sou1) T1
1classifier for ships
2Taiwan pr. [sāo]
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March 24, 2026
艘sōu(sou1)
The character 艘 (sōu) is a measure word specifically used for ships and vessels. It denotes the quantity of boats or ships when counting them, similar to how 'head' is used for cattle in English. It is important to use this classifier correctly in contexts involving maritime transportation.
Strokes15Radical舟Frequency#1795DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, shipping and maritime trade have been significant throughout history, especially given China's extensive coastline. The use of 艘 reflects the importance of vessels in both historical and modern contexts of trade and transportation.
Memory Tip
Imagine a large ship (艘) sailing smoothly on the sea. The character itself looks like a ship with its hull and sails, and you can remember the pronunciation 'sōu' by thinking of the sound of the waves as the ship moves through the water.
Meanings of 艘
sōu(sou1)
1classifier for ships
2Taiwan pr. [sāo]
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 艘
艘Simplified
15Strokes
舟Radical
数词shùcínumeral (num.)Part of Speech
#1795Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L6AdvancedBCT✓CEFRC2
Podcast: 艘
Podcast: 艘
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AI Study Notes for 艘
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a large ship (艘) sailing smoothly on the sea. The character itself looks like a ship with its hull and sails, and you can remember the pronunciation 'sōu' by thinking of the sound of the waves as the ship moves through the water.
Usage Notes
When using 艘, it is essential to pair it with a number or quantifier. Common mistakes include omitting the classifier when it is necessary or using it incorrectly with other objects. For instance, saying '两艘船' (liǎng sōu chuán) correctly counts two ships, while saying '两船' is incorrect.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 6 word, 艘 connects with other maritime vocabulary and classifiers learned at earlier levels. Students should focus on understanding how to appropriately use measure words with different nouns, especially in contexts involving transportation.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, shipping and maritime trade have been significant throughout history, especially given China's extensive coastline. The use of 艘 reflects the importance of vessels in both historical and modern contexts of trade and transportation.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 艘 with other measure words like 只 (zhī) or 条 (tiáo), which are used for different types of objects. For example, saying '三只船' (sān zhī chuán) is incorrect; it should be '三艘船' (sān sōu chuán).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 艘
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Grammar Patterns of 艘
艘 functions as a number. It almost always combines with a measure word before a noun (三个人, 五本书). Standalone numbers are rare outside of math or counting. It carries 4 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 4
Complete the Sentence
并未发现这____船上载有任何违禁物品。
The ship was found not to be carrying any contraband.
In Chinese culture, shipping and maritime trade have been significant throughout history, especially given China's extensive coastline. The use of 艘 reflects the importance of vessels in both historical and modern contexts of trade and transportation.
Word Family of 艘
Words Containing This Character1
艘sōuTaiwan pr. [sāo]
Exercise 1 of 1
Compound Meaning
What does 艘 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 艘
No, 艘 is specifically used for ships or larger vessels, not for smaller boats, which may use different classifiers.
Yes, in Taiwan, it can be pronounced as [sāo], but the standard pronunciation is [sōu].
You can say '三艘船' (sān sōu chuán) to mean 'three ships'.
