Level 3 · Unit 6 Water, Sea & Nature

How to Write 船 (chuán)

Meaning: "Boat / Ship"
Step-by-Step Stroke Order Diagram
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Detailed Mastery Guide for 船

The character 船 (Traditional: 船) is a fundamental part of the Chinese language, representing "Boat / Ship". In our Level 3 curriculum, we focus on the 11-step stroke sequence to ensure your handwriting is both fast and accurate.

Writing & Recognition

Proper stroke order is essential for character recognition and legibility. By following the animation above, you can see how the character is built from top to bottom and left to right. This character is often categorized under Water, Sea & Nature, making it a versatile addition to your vocabulary.

Key Vocabulary

船長 chuánzhǎng syun4zoeng2
captain of a ship
客船 kèchuán haak3syun4
passenger ship

Radical Breakdown

Breaking it down: The character 船 is built on the radical 舟 (137). Understanding radicals like this is a proven technique for accelerating vocabulary acquisition.

Etymology & Origins

Phono-semantic compound: 舟 (boat) denotes meaning, and 㕣 (original sound) provides the phonetic component.

Example Sentence

Simplified: 这艘船很大。

Zhè sōu chuán hěn dà.

Traditional: 這艘船很大。

Ze1 sau1 syun4 han2 daai6.

"This ship is very big."

Dialect Pronunciation

In Mandarin, this character is pronounced as chuán. If you are learning Cantonese, the pronunciation is syun4. Use the audio buttons to hear the subtle tonal differences between the two major Chinese dialects.

Practice & Retention

To move this character from short-term to long-term memory, we recommend using our free practice sheet generator. Writing the character 10-15 times while following the correct sequence is a proven method for mastery.

Quick Self-Check

What is the meaning of '船'?

A) Ship
B) Car
C) Plane
D) Train

Other Characters in Level 3 Unit 6

Hope this tool helps your Chinese learning journey!

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