钵 meaning and stroke order
Earthen basin; alms bowl
How to write 钵, stroke by stroke
10 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
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- 10
Meaning of 钵
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- small earthenware plate or basin
- a monk's alms bowl
- Sanskrit paatra
- variant of 缽|钵[bo1]
How 钵 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Gold.
钅 gives the meaning and 本 hints at the sound.
Radical: 钅 (gold), shared by 223 characters on this site.
How to remember 钵
A metal 钅 (jīn) bowl is the basic 本 (běn) thing a monk owns. The metal side gives the meaning and 本 hints at the sound bō.
钵 is mostly used for a monk's alms bowl or a small basin, and it shows up in Buddhist contexts and set phrases. A common word is 衣钵 (yībō), literally robe and bowl, meaning a legacy passed from teacher to student. Example: 他继承了老师的衣钵。(Tā jìchéng le lǎoshī de yībō.) He carried on his teacher's legacy.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 钵 with 钵's phonetic 本 or with 体 (tǐ), which also contains 本 but has the person radical 亻. Also remember the tone is first tone bō, not the third tone of 本 (běn).
Questions about 钵
How many strokes are in 钵?
钵 is written with 10 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 钵 mean?
钵 (bō) means earthen basin; alms bowl.
How do you pronounce 钵?
钵 is pronounced bō, in the first tone (high and level).
What is the radical of 钵?
The radical of 钵 is 钅, which carries the idea of "gold". Dictionaries list 钵 under this radical.
What is the traditional form of 钵?
The traditional form of 钵 is 缽 and 鉢. Traditional characters are used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau; 钵 is the simplified form used in mainland China and Singapore.
What does 衣钵 mean?
衣钵 (yībō) originally meant the robe and alms bowl a Buddhist master handed to his successor. Today it means a tradition, skill, or legacy passed down from a teacher.
Is 钵 used for everyday bowls?
Not usually. For an ordinary bowl people say 碗 (wǎn). 钵 appears in words like 饭钵 (fànbō) or 钵仔糕 (bōzǎigāo), a Cantonese pudding steamed in small bowls.