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Chinese vocabulary · Beginner
How do you say "anchor" in Chinese?
锚
máo
In Chinese, "anchor" is 锚 (máo).
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Pronunciation
Voice this as "máo" — second tone — rising sharply, the way your voice lifts when you ask "what?". Give each syllable of máo its own clear beat rather than rushing through.
Writing and usage
锚 is written using hanzi. It's a noun, part of the vocabulary taught in the Noun Town language learning game.
Example sentence
他们在岸边抛锚。
tā men zài àn biān pāo máo 。
They dropped the anchor near the shore.
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How to remember 锚
Imagine a vivid snapshot of when they dropped the anchor near the shore the moment you hear "máo".
Related words
Browse all Chinese words in the glossary.
Questions about 锚
How do you pronounce 锚?
Voice this as "máo" — second tone — rising sharply, the way your voice lifts when you ask "what?". Give each syllable of máo its own clear beat rather than rushing through.
Is 锚 formal or casual?
锚 is a neutral, everyday word that works in both casual and polite speech.
How is 锚 used in Chinese?
锚 is used the same way as the equivalent English noun. For example: 他们在岸边抛锚。 (They dropped the anchor near the shore.).
Where can I practice Chinese words for free?
You can play free Chinese minigames in your browser on the Noun Town online games page, no sign-up required. Every word in the Chinese glossary also has native audio and an example sentence you can revisit any time.
"Anchor" in other languages
Curated by Jack Ratcliffe
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