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胞 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
胞
bāo
placenta
HSK 7, n, 9 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #27237, Very Hard
胞
bāo
womb
HSK 7, n, 9 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #27237, Very Hard
胞
bāo
born of the same parents
HSK 7, n, 9 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #27237, Very Hard
胞
bāo
womb, placenta, fetal membrane
HSK 7, n, 9 strokes, radical ⺼, rank #27237, Very Hard
bāo(bao1)bao T1
1placenta
2womb
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
胞bāo(bao1)
The character 胞 (bāo) primarily refers to biological terms such as 'placenta' and 'womb'. It can also denote the concept of being 'born of the same parents', emphasizing familial connections. This term is often used in medical contexts or discussions about birth and maternity.
Strokes9Radical⺼Frequency#27237DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, the concept of family and birth is deeply valued, and 胞 carries connotations of health and life. The placenta is often viewed as a protective element for the baby, symbolizing the nurturing aspect of motherhood.
Memory tip
Imagine a 'bag' (the shape of 胞) that holds a baby before it is born. The 'b' sound in 'bag' connects to the 'b' in bāo, reminding you that this 'bag' is the womb or placenta where life begins.
Meanings of 胞
bāo(bao1)
1placenta
2womb
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 胞 means.
About 胞
胞Simplified
9Strokes
⺼Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#27237Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7
Podcast: 胞
Podcast: 胞
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AI study notes for 胞
Usage Notes
When using 胞, it’s important to be aware of the context, as it can sometimes be used in medical discussions or more intimate familial contexts. A common mistake is confusing it with similar-sounding characters; for example, don't confuse 胞 with 包 (bāo), which means 'to wrap'.
HSK Study Tips
Though not in the HSK vocabulary lists, 胞 is useful for learners familiar with biological terms. Students should focus on its application in medical contexts and its composition, which includes the radical for 'body' (肉), indicating its biological relevance.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 胞 (bāo) with 包 (bāo), leading to incorrect usage in sentences. For example, saying '我喜欢胞' (wǒ xǐhuān bāo) instead of '我喜欢包' (wǒ xǐhuān bāo) changes the meaning entirely from 'I like the placenta' to 'I like the bag'.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 胞
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Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 胞 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.
胞 = ⺼ + 包. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 胞
IDS Structure⿰⺼包
胞Full character
=
⺼rou4
left
包Bao1
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 胞?
How to say placenta in Chinese
“placenta” in Chinese is胞bāo
The character 胞 (bāo) primarily refers to biological terms such as 'placenta' and 'womb'. It can also denote the concept of being 'born of the same parents', emphasizing familial connections. This term is often used in medical contexts or discussions about birth and maternity.
When to use 胞
When using 胞, it’s important to be aware of the context, as it can sometimes be used in medical discussions or more intimate familial contexts. A common mistake is confusing it with similar-sounding characters; for example, don't confuse 胞 with 包 (bāo), which means 'to wrap'.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 胞 (bāo) with 包 (bāo), leading to incorrect usage in sentences. For example, saying '我喜欢胞' (wǒ xǐhuān bāo) instead of '我喜欢包' (wǒ xǐhuān bāo) changes the meaning entirely from 'I like the placenta' to 'I like the bag'.
Write 胞
胞
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Practice writing 胞 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 胞
胞 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 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 5
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
如果受到损伤，神经细____再造的能力有限。
Nerve cells have limited ability to regenerate if destroyed.
Example sentences for 胞 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
如果受到损伤，神经细胞再造的能力有限。
rúguǒ shòudào sǔnshāng， shénjīng xìbāo zài zào de nénglì yǒuxiàn。
Nerve cells have limited ability to regenerate if destroyed.
2
细胞不断地分裂更新，这是人体发育过程的一部分。
xìbāo búduàn dì fēnliè gēngxīn， zhè shì réntǐ fāyù guòchéng de yībùfen。
Cells divide and renew as part of the human growth process.
3
这对双胞胎不需要重读二年级。
zhè duì shuāngbāotāi bù xūyào zhòng dú èr niánjí。
The twins didn't have to repeat their second year at school.
4
肺细胞约每周新老更替一次。
fèi xìbāo yāo měi zhōu xīn lǎo gèng tì yī cì。
Lung cells die and are replaced about once a week.
5
他呼吁自己的同胞不要丧失信心。
tā hūyù zìjǐ de tóngbāo búyào sàngshī xìnxīn。
He appealed to his countrymen not to lose heart.
6
那对双胞胎为一系列家用清洁产品做广告。
nà duì shuāngbāotāi wèi yíxìliè jiāyòng qīngjié chǎnpǐn zuò guǎnggào。
The twins endorsed a line of household cleaning products.
