Chinese Character: 港
English Translation: Port; Harbor
1. Character Basics
Radical: 氵 (shuǐ, water)
Stroke Count: 12
Structure: Left-right structure. The left part 氵 indicates water, and the right part 巷 means alley or lane, suggesting a waterway that serves as a passage for ships.
Stroke Order:
2. Pronunciation
Pinyin: Gǎng
Tone: Third tone (falling-rising tone)
3. Meaning
Core Meaning: A place on the coast where ships can shelter, load, or unload cargo and passengers; a harbor or port.
Detailed Meanings:
- A sheltered inlet of the sea where ships can dock
- A port city or town
- A channel or basin providing shelter for boats
- Metaphorically refers to a safe haven or refuge
4. Common Words
- 港口 (gǎngkǒu) - Port; harbor
Example: 这个港口每天有很多船只进出。(Zhège gǎngkǒu měitiān yǒu hěnduō chuánzhī jìnchū.)
Translation: Many ships enter and exit this port every day.
- 香港 (Xiānggǎng) - Hong Kong
Example: 香港是一个国际大都市和重要港口。(Xiānggǎng shì yīgè guójì dàdūshì hé zhòngyào gǎngkǒu.)
Translation: Hong Kong is an international metropolis and an important port.
- 港湾 (gǎngwān) - Bay; harbor
Example: 渔船在港湾里避风。(Yúchuán zài gǎngwān lǐ bìfēng.)
Translation: Fishing boats take shelter from the wind in the bay.
- 海港 (hǎigǎng) - Seaport
Example: 上海是中国最大的海港之一。(Shànghǎi shì Zhōngguó zuìdà de hǎigǎng zhī yī.)
Translation: Shanghai is one of China's largest seaports.
- 空港 (kōnggǎng) - Airport
Example: 我们需要提前两个小时到达空港。(Wǒmen xūyào tíqián liǎng gè xiǎoshí dàodá kōnggǎng.)
Translation: We need to arrive at the airport two hours in advance.
5. Grammar & Usage
Part of Speech: Mainly used as a noun
Usage Pattern:
- Often used in compound words to refer to ports, harbors, or port-related facilities
- Can be combined with location words to form place names
- Sometimes used metaphorically to describe a place of safety or refuge
Common Collocations:
- 港口城市 (gǎngkǒu chéngshì) - Port city
- 港口设施 (gǎngkǒu shèshī) - Port facilities
- 自由贸易港 (zìyóu màoyì gǎng) - Free trade port
- 客运港 (kèyùn gǎng) - Passenger port
6. Cultural Background
In Chinese culture and history, the character 港 (gǎng) has important significance:
- Maritime Importance: Ports have played a crucial role in China's maritime trade and cultural exchange for thousands of years, connecting China with the rest of the world.
- Economic Significance: Major port cities like Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Hong Kong have been hubs of economic activity and centers of cultural diversity.
- Historical Context: China's port cities have been witness to important historical events, including foreign trade, cultural exchanges, and modernization efforts.
- Symbolism: The character 港 is often used metaphorically to represent a safe haven or a place of connection between different regions or cultures.
7. Example Sentence
Example 1:
这艘船明天将抵达港口。(Zhè sōu chuán míngtiān jiāng dǐdá gǎngkǒu.)
Translation: This ship will arrive at the port tomorrow.
Example 2:
香港是亚洲重要的金融中心和港口。(Xiānggǎng shì Yàzhōu zhòngyào de jīnróng zhōngxīn hé gǎngkǒu.)
Translation: Hong Kong is an important financial center and port in Asia.
Example 3:
暴风雨来临前，所有船只都回到了港湾。(Bàofēngyǔ láilín qián, suǒyǒu chuánzhī dōu huídàole gǎngwān.)
Translation: Before the storm arrived, all ships returned to the harbor.
8. Memory Tips
How to Remember 港 (gǎng):
- Component Breakdown: 港 consists of 氵 (shuǐ, water) and 巷 (xiàng, alley). Think of it as "a water alley" - a channel of water that serves as a passage for ships, like a harbor or port.
- Visual Association: Imagine a busy port with ships coming and going, with the left part 氵 representing the water and the right part 巷 suggesting the narrow waterway.
- Word Family: Learn related words together: 港口 (port), 香港 (Hong Kong), 港湾 (bay) to reinforce the character's connection to water and harbors.
- Memory Phrase: "水上的巷子是港湾" (Shuǐshàng de xiàngzi shì gǎngwān) meaning "An alley on water is a harbor."