How do you say "dock" in Chinese?

码头

mǎ tóu

Noun Hanzi

In Chinese, "dock" is 码头 (mǎ tóu).

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Pronunciation

Sound it out "mǎ tóu", third tone, then second tone, so dipping low then curling back up, like a small scoop; then the next syllable is rising sharply.

Writing and usage

码头 is written using hanzi. It's a noun, part of the vocabulary taught in the Noun Town language learning game.

Example sentence

船被系在码头上。

chuán bèi xì zài mǎ tóu shàng 。

The boat was tied to the dock.

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How to remember 码头

A quick anchor: the exact scene of when the boat was tied to the dock, then say "mǎ tóu" out loud.

Related words

Browse all Chinese words in the glossary.

Questions about 码头

How do you pronounce 码头?

Sound it out "mǎ tóu", third tone, then second tone, so dipping low then curling back up, like a small scoop; then the next syllable is rising sharply.

Is 码头 formal or casual?

码头 is a neutral, everyday word that works in both casual and polite speech.

How is 码头 used in Chinese?

码头 is used the same way as the equivalent English noun. For example: 船被系在码头上。 (The boat was tied to the dock.).

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.

"Dock" in other languages

Curated by Jack Ratcliffe

This word is part of the vocabulary taught in the Chinese language learning game Noun Town, where words are introduced through play rather than memorisation. Want to play the full game? Get Noun Town on Steam.

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