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赛跑 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
赛跑sàipǎorace (running)HSK 7, unknown, 26 strokes, rank #9587, Very Hard
赛跑sàipǎoto race (running)HSK 7, unknown, 26 strokes, rank #9587, Very Hard
sàipǎo(sai4pao3)sai pao T4
  1. 1race (running)
  2. 2to race (running)
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March 24, 2026

赛跑(賽跑)sàipǎo(sai4pao3)

赛跑 (sài pǎo) refers to a running race, where individuals or teams compete to see who can complete a set distance the fastest. It is commonly used in both formal sports contexts and casual settings, emphasizing competition in speed and endurance.

Strokes26Frequency#9587DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

Running races are popular in Chinese culture, especially during sports festivals in schools and community events. Events such as marathons have gained popularity, reflecting the growing emphasis on fitness and health in modern Chinese society.

Memory tip

Imagine two runners at the starting line, both eager to 'sai' (赛) or win the race, and as they start running, you hear the sound 'pao' (跑) meaning to run. Visualize them racing down a path, with 'sai' (赛) representing the competition and 'pao' (跑) symbolizing the action of running.

Meanings of 赛跑

sàipǎo(sai4pao3)
1race (running)
2to race (running)
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About 赛跑

赛跑Simplified
賽跑Traditional
26Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

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Podcast: 赛跑

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AI study notes for 赛跑

Quick Contrast

竞赛 (jìngsài) - use 赛跑 when specifically referring to a running race, while 竞赛 is a broader term for any competition.

Usage Notes

Be cautious of the tone for both characters; incorrect tones can change the meaning of the word. It's often used in sports contexts and can be combined with other words, such as '长跑' (cháng pǎo) for long-distance running. Avoid using it in non-competitive contexts.

HSK Study Tips

Although 赛跑 is not an HSK vocabulary item, it connects to HSK Level 3 words related to sports and activities. Focus on mastering the tones and practicing with related terms like '跑步' (pǎobù) which means 'to jog'.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 赛跑 with other sports-related words. For example, using '赛跑' to refer to cycling races is incorrect; instead, use '赛自行车' (sài zì xíng chē) for cycling races.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 赛跑

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Component characters

赛sàito compete
HSK 714 strokes贝
View full entry
跑pǎoto run
HSK 212 strokes足
View full entry

How to say race (running) in Chinese

“race (running)” in Chinese is赛跑sàipǎo

赛跑 (sài pǎo) refers to a running race, where individuals or teams compete to see who can complete a set distance the fastest. It is commonly used in both formal sports contexts and casual settings, emphasizing competition in speed and endurance.

When to use 赛跑

Be cautious of the tone for both characters; incorrect tones can change the meaning of the word. It's often used in sports contexts and can be combined with other words, such as '长跑' (cháng pǎo) for long-distance running. Avoid using it in non-competitive contexts.

赛跑 or something close to it

竞赛 (jìngsài) - use 赛跑 when specifically referring to a running race, while 竞赛 is a broader term for any competition.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 赛跑 with other sports-related words. For example, using '赛跑' to refer to cycling races is incorrect; instead, use '赛自行车' (sài zì xíng chē) for cycling races.

Write 赛跑

赛
跑

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Frequently asked questions about 赛跑

赛跑 specifically refers to a competitive race, while 跑步 means simply 'to run' or 'jog' without any competition.

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