HSK 7, n, 7 strokes, radical 扌, rank #1680, Very Hard
报
bào
to inform
HSK 7, n, 7 strokes, radical 扌, rank #1680, Very Hard
报
bào
report
HSK 7, n, 7 strokes, radical 扌, rank #1680, Very Hard
报
bào
newspaper
HSK 7, n, 7 strokes, radical 扌, rank #1680, Very Hard
报
bào
recompense
HSK 7, n, 7 strokes, radical 扌, rank #1680, Very Hard
报
bào
revenge
HSK 7, n, 7 strokes, radical 扌, rank #1680, Very Hard
报
bào
to announce, to report; newspaper; payback, revenge
HSK 7, n, 7 strokes, radical 扌, rank #1680, Very Hard
bào(bao4) T4
1to announce
2to inform
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
报(報)bào(bao4)
The character 报 (bào) primarily means 'to announce' or 'to report.' It is commonly used in contexts involving news, notifications, or reporting information, such as in newspapers or formal announcements. Additionally, it has nuances related to recompense or revenge, highlighting a duality in its usage depending on context.
Strokes7Radical扌Frequency#1680DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, newspapers play a vital role in disseminating information and shaping public opinion. The concept of reporting is also tied to accountability and social responsibility, reflecting the importance of transparency in communication.
Memory Tip
Think of 报 (bào) as a 'reporting' sound, where the top part (扌) resembles a hand that is 'announcing' something, while the bottom part (包) can be visualized as a 'package' of information being delivered. Picture a newspaper being handed over, echoing the sound 'bào' as it's given.
Meanings of 报
bào(bao4)
1to announce
2to inform
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 报
报Simplified
報Traditional
7Strokes
扌Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#1680Frequency Rank
份Measure Word
HSK 3.0L7ElementaryTOCFLL3YCTL4HSKKL2CEFRA2
Podcast: 报
Podcast: 报
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 报
Quick Contrast
通知 (tōngzhī) vs 报 (bào): Use 通知 for formal notifications or communications, while 报 is more about reporting news or announcements.
Usage Notes
Be cautious with the tone, as 'bào' can be confused with 'bǎo' (保), which means 'to protect.' In formal contexts, it’s often used in phrases related to news or reports, such as 报纸 (bàozhǐ) for 'newspaper.' Common collocations include 报告 (bàogào) meaning 'report' and 报名 (bàomíng) meaning 'to register.'
HSK Study Tips
While 报 is not specifically categorized in HSK levels, its components are useful for learners. It connects with other HSK words related to communication, such as 说 (shuō - to speak) and 告诉 (gàosù - to tell). Focus on recognizing its use in different contexts and its pronunciation.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mix up 报 with similar-sounding words. For instance, saying 报告 (bàogào) incorrectly as 报高 (bàogāo), which does not exist. The correct pronunciation should always use the neutral tone on the second character.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 报
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 报 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Simplified form of 報. Pictograph of a kneeling person (卩) being forced by a hand (又) into shackles (㚔). Based on the original meaning "punish". The meaning later shifted to "revenge", "recompense", "report", and "announce".
Memory Hint
A hand 扌 cuffing 又 a criminal 卩, representing sentencing
Simplified form of 報. Pictograph of a kneeling person (卩) being forced by a hand (又) into shackles (㚔). Based on the original meaning "punish". The meaning later shifted to "revenge", "recompense", "report", and "announce".
1The giveawayA hand 扌 cuffing 又 a criminal 卩, representing sentencing
2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 报? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 报?
Decomposition of 报
IDS Structure⿰扌⿸卩又
报Full Character
=
扌shou3
left
卩jie2
enclosing
又you4
inner
Exercise 1 of 3
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 报?
How to say to announce in Chinese
“to announce” in Chinese is报bào
The character 报 (bào) primarily means 'to announce' or 'to report.' It is commonly used in contexts involving news, notifications, or reporting information, such as in newspapers or formal announcements. Additionally, it has nuances related to recompense or revenge, highlighting a duality in its usage depending on context.
When to use 报
Be cautious with the tone, as 'bào' can be confused with 'bǎo' (保), which means 'to protect.' In formal contexts, it’s often used in phrases related to news or reports, such as 报纸 (bàozhǐ) for 'newspaper.' Common collocations include 报告 (bàogào) meaning 'report' and 报名 (bàomíng) meaning 'to register.'
报 or something close to it
通知 (tōngzhī) vs 报 (bào): Use 通知 for formal notifications or communications, while 报 is more about reporting news or announcements.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mix up 报 with similar-sounding words. For instance, saying 报告 (bàogào) incorrectly as 报高 (bàogāo), which does not exist. The correct pronunciation should always use the neutral tone on the second character.
Write 报
报
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 报 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 报
报 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 7 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.
