港湾 (gǎng wān) — natural harbor, port | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

港湾 refers to a sheltered natural harbor — narrower than 港口 (general port, including man-made facilities) and with calmer water than 海湾 (bay or gulf). Often used metaphorically, like 'haven,' for a safe place.

noun

natural harborport

Measure word · 个

Examples

港湾。
Zhè ge gǎng wān shì tiān rán xíng chéng de.
This harbor was formed naturally.
港湾。
Huò chuán zài gǎng wān lǐ zhuāng xiè huò wù.
Cargo ships load and unload goods in the harbor.
，港湾。
Duì yú yú mín lái shuō, zhè lǐ shì wēn nuǎn de gǎng wān.
For the fishermen, this is a warm haven.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

港 and 湾 both denote sheltered water for ships, together meaning a natural harbor.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

水水shuǐriver; water

Sound part声符shēngfú

巷

巷xiàng港gǎng

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

港 uses 水 (river; water) to show its meaning and 巷 to give its sound.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 灣; 湾 is its simplified writing.

氵彎灣

Meaning part形符xíngfú

氵Written in full as水shuǐwater

Sound part声符shēngfú

彎

彎wān灣wān

Same sound today

The traditional form 灣 pairs 氵 (water) with 彎, which gives the sound; the simplified 湾 is a shorthand.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 7-9 HSK 2.0 Level 6 Geography & Landforms Boats & Water Travel

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