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港湾 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
港湾gǎngwānnatural harborHSK 7, ns, rank #19477, Hard
港湾gǎngwānbay serving as harborHSK 7, ns, rank #19477, Hard
gǎngwān(gang3wan1) T3
  1. 1natural harbor
  2. 2bay serving as harbor
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March 24, 2026
港湾(港灣)gǎngwān(gang3wan1)

港湾 (gǎngwān) refers to a natural harbor or bay that provides a sheltered area for ships to dock and anchor. It is commonly used in maritime contexts, especially when discussing shipping routes, naval bases, or fishing areas. The term emphasizes the safety and protection offered by the geographical features of the bay.

Frequency#19477DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

The concept of港湾 is significant in Chinese maritime history, especially along the coast where many cities were originally established for trade and fishing. Notable examples include the natural harbors in places like Shanghai and Hong Kong, which have played crucial roles in economic development.

Memory Tip

Imagine a grand ship sailing into a 'gorgeous bay' where it can safely rest. The character 港 (gǎng) looks like a gate (阝) protecting the boats, and 湾 (wān) resembles a gentle wave, symbolizing the calm water of the bay. Think of the sounds 'gang' and 'wan' as your ship's anchor dropping into this tranquil harbor.

Meanings of 港湾

gǎngwān(gang3wan1)
1natural harbor
2bay serving as harbor
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 港湾

港湾Simplified
港灣Traditional
Strokes
Radical
地名míngcíplace name (p.n.)Part of Speech
#19477Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7TOCFLL5HSKKL3CEFRC1

Podcast: 港湾

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Podcast: 港湾

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AI Study Notes for 港湾

Quick Contrast

港口 (gǎngkǒu) refers specifically to a port where ships load and unload cargo, while 港湾 (gǎngwān) emphasizes the natural harbor aspect.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a grand ship sailing into a 'gorgeous bay' where it can safely rest. The character 港 (gǎng) looks like a gate (阝) protecting the boats, and 湾 (wān) resembles a gentle wave, symbolizing the calm water of the bay. Think of the sounds 'gang' and 'wan' as your ship's anchor dropping into this tranquil harbor.

Usage Notes

Be mindful of the tone when pronouncing 港湾, as mispronouncing either character can lead to confusion. It's commonly used in discussions about geography and environmental science. A common collocation is '自然港湾' (natural harbor), which emphasizes the ecological aspect of such locations.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK 6 word, 港湾 connects to themes of geography, transportation, and environment that are often explored at this level. Students should focus on its usage in more complex sentences and practice with related terms like 港口 (port) and 海湾 (bay).

Cultural Note

The concept of港湾 is significant in Chinese maritime history, especially along the coast where many cities were originally established for trade and fishing. Notable examples include the natural harbors in places like Shanghai and Hong Kong, which have played crucial roles in economic development.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 港湾 with ports, leading to sentences like '这个港湾有很多船' (This harbor has many ships) instead of the more accurate '这个港口有很多船' (This port has many ships). Be careful to use 港湾 only for natural harbors.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 港湾

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Component Characters

GǎngHong Kong, abbr. for 香港[Xiāng gǎng]
HSK 712 strokes
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wānbay
12 strokes
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Write 港湾

Practice writing 港湾 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar Patterns of 港湾

港湾 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 2

Complete the Sentence

山岩的一小角突入____.

A small section of rock juts out into the harbour.

Example Sentences for 港湾 (1)

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1
山岩的一小角突入港湾.

shān yán de yī xiǎo jiǎo tū rù gǎng wān.

A small section of rock juts out into the harbour.

Cultural Notes for 港湾

🏮Cultural insight

The concept of港湾 is significant in Chinese maritime history, especially along the coast where many cities were originally established for trade and fishing. Notable examples include the natural harbors in places like Shanghai and Hong Kong, which have played crucial roles in economic development.

Frequently Asked Questions about 港湾

港湾 (gǎngwān) specifically refers to a natural harbor, while 港口 (gǎngkǒu) means a port, which can be man-made or natural.