艘

sōu

叟 + 舟

HSK 2.0Level 6

HSK 3.0Level 6

Definitions

sōu (classifier) classifier for ships

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 舟 represents the meaning and 叟 represents the sound.

Semantic: 舟 Phonetic: 叟

About

A phono-semantic compound, 艘 has the boat radical 舟 on the left side to indicate the meaning, and the component 叟 (sǒu) on the right side for its sound. It is not a noun or verb; 艘 functions almost exclusively as a grammatical measure word (classifier) for counting ships, boats, and other large watercraft. The character lacks independent meaning outside its role as a counter, and it applies universally to vessels of all sizes, from small sailboats to massive contemporary naval warships and commercial freighters.

Example Sentences Hide

这是一艘小船。

Zhè shì yī sōu xiǎo chuán.

This is a small boat.

湖上有一艘船。

Hú shàng yǒu yī sōu chuán.

There is a boat on the lake.

他买了一艘新船。

Tā mǎi le yī sōu xīn chuán.

He bought a new boat.

这艘船很大。

Zhè sōu chuán hěn dà.

This ship is very big.

港口停泊着许多艘船。

Gǎngkǒu tíngbó zhe xǔduō sōu chuán.

Many ships are moored at the port.

我们公司拥有三艘货轮。

Wǒmen gōngsī yōngyǒu sān sōu huòlún.

Our company owns three cargo ships.

那艘军舰正在执行任务。

Nà sōu jūnjiàn zhèngzài zhíxíng rènwù.

That warship is performing a mission.

根据计划，他们将建造五艘新型潜艇。

Gēnjù jìhuà, tāmen jiāng jiànzào wǔ sōu xīnxíng qiántǐng.

According to the plan, they will build five new-type submarines.

Related Characters

Component: 叟

Component: 舟