HSK 7, v, 7 strokes, radical 马, rank #20739, Very Hard
驳
bó
heterogeneous
HSK 7, v, 7 strokes, radical 马, rank #20739, Very Hard
驳
bó
to refute
HSK 7, v, 7 strokes, radical 马, rank #20739, Very Hard
驳
bó
to contradict
HSK 7, v, 7 strokes, radical 马, rank #20739, Very Hard
驳
bó
to ship by barge
HSK 7, v, 7 strokes, radical 马, rank #20739, Very Hard
驳
bó
a barge
HSK 7, v, 7 strokes, radical 马, rank #20739, Very Hard
驳
bó
a lighter (ship)
HSK 7, v, 7 strokes, radical 马, rank #20739, Very Hard
驳
bó
variegated, motley; to refuse, to dispute
HSK 7, v, 7 strokes, radical 马, rank #20739, Very Hard
bó(bo2) T2
1variegated
2heterogeneous
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March 24, 2026
驳(駁)bó(bo2)
The character 驳 (bó) primarily means 'to refute' or 'to contradict.' It is commonly used in contexts involving debates or discussions where one party challenges the claims of another. Additionally, it can refer to transportation by barge, highlighting its versatility in meaning.
Strokes7Radical马Frequency#20739DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, engaging in debates or discussions is often seen as a way to strengthen arguments and clarify misunderstandings. The concept of refuting ideas is integral to many traditional Chinese philosophical discussions, such as those found in Confucianism.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person on a barge (the shipping meaning) arguing with someone on shore. The barge symbolizes the character's form, while the act of arguing represents the notion of refuting or contradicting. This visual helps link the pronunciation 'bó' with the concept of debate.
Meanings of 驳
bó(bo2)
1variegated
2heterogeneous
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 驳
驳Simplified
駁Traditional
7Strokes
马Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#20739Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7
Podcast: 驳
Podcast: 驳
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AI Study Notes for 驳
Quick Contrast
驳 (bó) vs 反驳 (fǎnbó) — use 驳 for general refutation, while 反驳 specifically emphasizes counterarguments.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 驳 with similar-sounding characters that convey disagreement but have different nuances. It is generally used in formal contexts, especially in academic or legal discussions. Be cautious with tone pronunciation; 'bó' should be pronounced with a rising tone.
HSK Study Tips
While 驳 is not included in the HSK levels, it shares roots with other words related to contradiction, such as 反对 (fǎnduì, to oppose). Students should focus on understanding its usage in debates and discussions to enhance their vocabulary at higher levels.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 驳 with 驳回 (bóhuí), which means to reject or dismiss a proposal. For example, saying '我驳回了这个提议' (Wǒ bóhuíle zhège tíyì) is incorrect if intending to say 'I refuted this proposal'; instead, use 驳 to indicate contradiction.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 驳
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Phonosemantic compound. 马 represents the meaning and 爻 represents the sound. Simplified form of 駁.
1The meaning half马 carries the sense.
2The sound half爻 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawayhorse
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 驳? 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 驳?
Decomposition of 驳
IDS Structure⿰马爻
驳Full Character
=
马Ma3
left
爻yao2
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 驳?
How to say variegated in Chinese
“variegated” in Chinese is驳bó
The character 驳 (bó) primarily means 'to refute' or 'to contradict.' It is commonly used in contexts involving debates or discussions where one party challenges the claims of another. Additionally, it can refer to transportation by barge, highlighting its versatility in meaning.
When to use 驳
Learners often confuse 驳 with similar-sounding characters that convey disagreement but have different nuances. It is generally used in formal contexts, especially in academic or legal discussions. Be cautious with tone pronunciation; 'bó' should be pronounced with a rising tone.
驳 or something close to it
驳 (bó) vs 反驳 (fǎnbó) — use 驳 for general refutation, while 反驳 specifically emphasizes counterarguments.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 驳 with 驳回 (bóhuí), which means to reject or dismiss a proposal. For example, saying '我驳回了这个提议' (Wǒ bóhuíle zhège tíyì) is incorrect if intending to say 'I refuted this proposal'; instead, use 驳 to indicate contradiction.
Write 驳
驳
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Practice writing 驳 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 驳
驳 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 8 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.
