宝 (bǎo) — treasure; gem; precious object

Definition

宝 is a literary/formal word for a treasure or gem, used mostly in set phrases like 宝物 or 珠宝. For a person (term of endearment) or everyday 'treasure,' use 宝贝.

noun
treasuregemprecious object
Measure word · 个
Easily confused

Examples

  • 宝。
    Zhè kuài bǎo shì cóng guó wài mǎi lái de.
    This gem was bought from abroad.
  • 。
    Bó wù guǎn lǐ yǒu hěn duō gǔ dài bǎo wù.
    There are many ancient treasures in the museum.
  • 宝。
    Tā bǎ nà běn shū dàng chéng bǎo yí yàng zhēn xī.
    He cherishes that book as if it were a treasure.

Origin

Compound ideograph
六书liùshū
会意huìyì

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 寶; 宝 is its simplified writing.

  • 宀宀miánhouse
  • 琡琡chùjade
  • 貝貝bèicowry

The traditional form 寶 shows 宀 (house), 琡 (jade), and 貝 (cowry), drawn together as treasures in a house.

Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 5Miscellaneous Objects3000 Most Frequent Chinese Words5000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

Browse more HSK 5 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.