汽船

qìchuán

noun #31,094

Measure Word

一艘汽船 sōu

Meanings

1 steamboat
2 steamship
3 motorboat (small)

Characters

Examples

十九世纪汽船开始取代帆船。

Shíjiǔ shìjì qìchuán kāishǐ qǔdài fānchuán.

In the 19th century, steamships began to replace sailing ships.

他们坐汽船过湖。

Tāmen zuò qìchuán guò hú.

They crossed the lake by motorboat.

Tips

memory

汽 (steam/gas) + 船 (ship) — literally "steam-ship." Compare 帆船 (sailing ship), 轮船 (ocean liner), 货船 (cargo ship). The 汽 hints at the 19th-century steam era, but it's also used today for any small motorboat.

Stroke Order

汽 qì

船 chuán