Chinese word

水手

Pronunciation

Pinyinshuǐ shǒu

Meaning

  • nounsailor

Example

他是我们的水手，负责甲板工作。tā shì wǒ men de shuí shǒu fù zé jiá bǎn gōng zuò

He is one of our sailors and is responsible for deck work.

Illustration for 水手 (sailor)

More examples

海上的水手要应对突发的海况。hǎi shàng de shuí shǒu yào yìng duì tū fā de hǎi kuàng

Sailors at sea must handle sudden changes in sea conditions.

Core concept

A hands-on worker aboard a ship, especially one responsible for deck, steering, or other practical ship duties.

Common phrases

  • 海上的水手hǎi shàng de shuí shǒu

    sailor at sea

  • 经验丰富的水手jīng yàn fēng fù de shuí shǒu

    seasoned sailor

  • 甲板上作业的水手jiá bǎn shàng zuò yè de shuí shǒu

    sailor working on deck

Similar words

船员chuán yuán: A person who serves on a ship as a member of its crew, whatever the particular onboard job.
海员hǎi yuán: A crew member who works at sea, commonly on a merchant ship or fishing boat.
水兵shuǐ bīng: An enlisted soldier on a warship who commonly carries out work on deck.

Definition in Chinese

在船上从事甲板、操舵或其他与船舶直接有关工作的人员。zài chuán shàng cóng shì jiá bǎn cāo duò huò qí tā yǔ chuán bó zhí jiē yǒu guān gōng zuò de rén yuán

Word origin

水 (shuǐ, "water") + 手 (shǒu, "hand") uses 手 in its extended sense of a worker, forming a transparent compound for someone who works aboard a vessel.

Usage tips

  • In occupation statements, this noun describes a person's regular shipboard job, while a temporary passenger or traveler role does not normally make someone a sailor.

Other meanings

  • crew membernoun

Related words

  • 水手服shuí shǒu fúsailor uniformnoun
  • 水手帽shuí shǒu màosailor capnoun
  • 水手长shuí shóu zhǎngchief petty officernoun

Word lists with this word