舷

xián
玄 + 舟

Definitions

xián side of a ship or an aircraft

Etymology phono-semantic

ship

Semantic: 舟 Phonetic: 玄

About

舷 (xián) refers to the side, gunwale, or board of a ship. It is a phono-semantic compound: the left radical 舟 (boat) places it in the semantic field of watercraft, while the right component 玄 (xuán) supplies the pronunciation. 玄 independently means 'dark' or 'profound', and some suggest it may hint at the dark waters alongside a vessel. The character is used in compounds for port and starboard on boats, ships, and aircraft, reflecting an extension from traditional seafaring to modern aviation.

Example Sentences Hide

他站在船舷旁边。

Tā zhàn zài chuánxián pángbiān.

He stands next to the ship's side.

舷窗外面是大海。

Xiánchuāng wàimiàn shì dàhǎi.

Outside the porthole is the sea.

游客从舷梯登上飞机。

Yóukè cóng xiántī dēng shàng fēijī.

Tourists board the plane from the gangway.

船长命令检查左舷。

Chuánzhǎng mìnglìng jiǎnchá zuǒxián.

The captain ordered to check the port side.

他们正在清洗船舷上的污渍。

Tāmen zhèngzài qīngxǐ chuánxián shàng de wūzì.

They are cleaning the stains on the ship's side.

飞机的右舷发动机出现了故障。

Fēijī de yòuxián fādòngjī chūxiàn le gùzhàng.

The starboard engine of the plane has malfunctioned.

在暴风雨中，船舷的栏杆必须牢固。

Zài bàofēngyǔ zhōng, chuánxián de lángān bìxū láogù.

In the storm, the railings on the ship's side must be secure.

工程师设计了新型的舷窗以增强密封性。

Gōngchéngshī shèjì le xīnxíng de xiánchuāng yǐ zēngqiáng mìfēng xìng.

Engineers designed a new type of porthole to enhance sealing.

Related Characters

Component: 玄

率 畜 弦 眩 炫 铉 泫 衒 絃 鮌 痃 蚿 伭 昡

Component: 舟

船 般 航 舰 盘 艇 艘 舱 舟 舶 舵 舫 艄 舸

Example Words

左舷 舷窗 船舷