HSK 7, v, 13 strokes, radical 火, rank #21121, Hard
煲
bāo
to cook slowly over a low flame
HSK 7, unknown, 13 strokes, radical 火, rank #21121, Hard
煲
bāo
pot
HSK 7, unknown, 13 strokes, radical 火, rank #21121, Hard
bāo(bao1) T1
1to heat, to boil; saucepan
2to cook slowly over a low flame
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March 24, 2026
煲bāo(bao1)
The character 煲 (bāo) primarily means to heat or boil, often referring to the process of cooking food slowly over a low flame. It is commonly used in contexts involving simmering soups or stews, emphasizing a gentle and prolonged cooking method, which helps to enhance flavors.
Strokes13Radical火Frequency#21121DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese cuisine, the practice of 煲 soups is traditional and often involves simmering ingredients for several hours to extract maximum flavor, showcasing the importance placed on culinary techniques in Chinese culture.
Memory Tip
Imagine a big pot (煲) on the stove, bubbling away as it slowly cooks a delicious soup. The shape of the pot resembles the character, and you can remember it because 'bāo' sounds like 'boil' — both involve heat and cooking!
Meanings of 煲
bāo(bao1)
1to heat, to boil; saucepan
2to cook slowly over a low flame
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 煲
煲Simplified
13Strokes
火Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2
Podcast: 煲
Podcast: 煲
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AI Study Notes for 煲
Quick Contrast
煮 (zhǔ) vs 煲 (bāo): use 煲 when emphasizing slow cooking or simmering, while 煮 refers to boiling in a more general sense.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a big pot (煲) on the stove, bubbling away as it slowly cooks a delicious soup. The shape of the pot resembles the character, and you can remember it because 'bāo' sounds like 'boil' — both involve heat and cooking!
Usage Notes
A common mistake is using 煲 in contexts where a more general cooking term like 做 (zuò) would be appropriate. 煲 is more specific to slow cooking methods. This term is informal and often used in everyday conversation about food.
HSK Study Tips
Although 煲 is not in the HSK vocabulary list, it connects well with other cooking-related terms. Students should focus on the context of cooking and familiarize themselves with related verbs like 煮 (zhǔ) which means to boil more generally.
Cultural Note
In Chinese cuisine, the practice of 煲 soups is traditional and often involves simmering ingredients for several hours to extract maximum flavor, showcasing the importance placed on culinary techniques in Chinese culture.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 煲 with 煮 (zhǔ), leading to phrases like '煲饭' (bāo fàn), which is incorrect as 煲 is not typically used for cooking rice. The correct term would be 煮饭 (zhǔ fàn).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 煲
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Grammar Patterns of 煲
煲 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 3 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 3
Complete the Sentence
跟肉铺老板要____汤用的骨头（最好是髓骨）。
Ask the butcher for soup bones (marrow bones are best).
Example Sentences for 煲 (3)
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1
跟肉铺老板要煲汤用的骨头（最好是髓骨）。
gēn ròu pū lǎo bǎn yào bāo tāng yòng de gǔ tóu（ （ zuì hǎo shì suǐ）。
Ask the butcher for soup bones (marrow bones are best).
2
他总是卿卿我我地跟女朋友煲电话粥。
tā zǒng shì qīng qīng wǒ wǒ dì gēn nǚ péng yǒu bāo diàn huà zhōu。
He's constantly on the phone to his girlfriend being soppy.
He's constantly on the phone to his girlfriend. We have to go halves on the phone bill which drives me mad.
Cultural Notes for 煲
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese cuisine, the practice of 煲 soups is traditional and often involves simmering ingredients for several hours to extract maximum flavor, showcasing the importance placed on culinary techniques in Chinese culture.
Word Family of 煲
Words Containing This Character2
煲bāopot
电饭煲rice cooker電飯煲
Exercise 1 of 2
Compound Meaning
What does 煲 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 煲
No, 煲 specifically refers to slow cooking or simmering, rather than other methods like frying or grilling.
Generally, 煲 is more informal and commonly used in everyday conversation rather than in formal culinary contexts.
You can say '我喜欢煲汤' (Wǒ xǐhuān bāo tāng), which means 'I like to simmer soup'.
