Learn a Chinese Character - 舰

Chinese Character:

1. Character Basics

Radical: 舟/zhōu radical (舟字旁)

Stroke Count: 10

Stroke Order:

Stroke Order Animation

2. Pronunciation

Pinyin: jiàn (fourth tone)

3. Meaning

warship, naval vessel, large ship

4. Common Words

5. Grammar & Usage

is a noun that refers to a large ship, especially a warship or naval vessel. It is commonly used in compound words related to ships and naval terminology.

In Chinese, is often combined with other characters to specify the type of ship, such as 军舰 (military ship) or 航空母舰 (aircraft carrier). This character is typically used as a suffix in ship-related terms.

can also be used in phrases like 舰艇 (jiàn tǐng) which is a general term for warships and boats, or 舰队 (jiàn duì) meaning "naval fleet".

When used in sentences, usually appears as part of a compound word, followed by verbs related to sailing, patrolling, or other maritime activities.

6. Cultural Background

The character has played an important role in Chinese maritime history. China has a long tradition of shipbuilding and naval exploration dating back thousands of years.

In ancient China, large ships were used for trade, exploration, and defense. The famous Chinese explorer Zheng He commanded庞大 fleets of ships that sailed to Southeast Asia, India, and East Africa during the Ming Dynasty.

Today, the character is often associated with modern naval力量 and shipbuilding. China's modern navy is one of the largest in the world, and the development of advanced warships has become an important part of China's national defense strategy.

The character also appears in many Chinese idioms and proverbs related to the sea and maritime activities, reflecting the importance of the ocean in Chinese culture and history.

7. Example Sentence

句子 (jù zi): 中国的军舰在南海巡逻。

Pronunciation (pīn yīn): Zhōng guó de jūn jiàn zài nán hǎi xún luó.

Translation (fān yì): Chinese warships are patrolling in the South China Sea.

8. Memory Tips

The character consists of two parts: (zhōu, boat) on the left and (jiàn, see) on the right. You can remember it by thinking of "seeing (见) a boat (舟)", which relates to its meaning of "ship" or "vessel".

Another way to remember: sounds like "jiàn" and means "warship". Think of the phrase "军舰" (jūn jiàn) meaning "warship".

The radical (boat) on the left of the character clearly indicates that it is related to water or ships, which fits with its meaning of "ship" or "vessel".

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