How to Write 舢 (shān) — Meaning “sampan (small boat)”

Imagine a small boat (舟) shaped like a mountain (山) floating on water. The mountain shape represents the small, simple design of a sampan. This visual link helps you recall both the appearance and the pronunciation 'shān'.

When writing 舢, first write the 舟 radical with its standard 6 strokes, making sure the vertical stroke is straight and the bottom hook is clear. Then add 山 on the right, keeping it compact so the whole character stays balanced — a common mistake is making the right side too wide.

舢 has the component 山 on the right and means 'sampan'. 舡 has 工 on the right and is a rare character for 'boat' (often a variant of 船). 舣 has 义 on the right and means 'to moor a boat'. Focus on the different right-side components to distinguish them visually and in meaning.

舢 appears mainly in the words 舢舨 and 舢板, both meaning 'sampan' — a traditional small wooden boat used in rivers and coastal areas. It is not common in everyday Chinese but is used in historical, cultural, or regional contexts, especially when describing old-style fishing or transport boats.

Common words containing 舢 include: 舢舨 (shān bǎn) — sampan; 舢板 (shān bǎn) — sampan (a small flat-bottomed boat); 小舢 (xiǎo shān) — Small sampan.