Definitions

tǐng (noun) vessel; small ship

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character "艇" is constructed from the semantic component "舟", meaning boat, combined with the phonetic component "廷", which also contributes a sense of a defined space or compound, together originally conveying the idea of a light, small boat within a category of watercraft. Its early usage in classical texts generally distinguished such vessels from larger ships, often referring to specific types like skiffs, tenders, or pleasure boats. Over centuries, its core meaning stabilized around the concept of a small, often specialized, waterborne vessel, a definition it retains today, encompassing everything from rowboats to speedboats and submarines, while its structural composition has remained consistent in its traditional form.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这是一艘小

Zhè shì yī sōu xiǎo tǐng.

This is a small boat.

救生已经准备好了。

Jiùshēngtǐng yǐjīng zhǔnbèi hǎo le.

The lifeboat is already prepared.

他们喜欢划橡皮

Tāmen xǐhuān huá xiàngpítǐng.

They enjoy paddling the rubber dinghy.

公园的湖里有脚踏

Gōngyuán de hú li yǒu jiǎotàtǐng.

There are pedal boats on the park's lake.

海军拥有先进的潜

Hǎijūn yōngyǒu xiānjìn de qiántǐng.

The navy possesses advanced submarines.

他们乘快出海钓鱼。

Tāmen chéng kuàitǐng chūhǎi diàoyú.

They went fishing offshore on a speedboat.

那艘豪华游非常昂贵。

Nà sōu háohuá yóutǐng fēichīng ángguì.

That luxurious yacht is very expensive.

探险队驾驶飞穿越峡谷。

Tànxiǎnduì jiàshǐ fēitǐng chuānyuè xiágǔ.

The expedition team piloted an airship through the canyon.