HSK · Level 24
135 words
Chinese word
船长
Pronunciation
Pinyinchuán zhǎng
Meaning
- nouncaptain
Example
他是我们船上的船长。tā shì wǒ men chuán shàng de chuán zhǎng
He is the captain of our ship.
More examples
新任船长宣布了航行计划。xīn rèn chuán zhǎng xuān bù le háng xíng jì huà
The newly appointed captain announced the sailing plan.
Core concept
The person who commands a ship and carries final responsibility for its voyage and everything aboard.
Common phrases
担任船长dān rèn chuán zhǎng
serve as captain
船长下令chuán zhǎng xià lìng
the captain gives orders
新任船长xīn rèn chuán zhǎng
newly appointed captain
Similar words
船员chuán yuán: A person who works on a ship and handles one of its assigned duties.
机长jī zhǎng: The person in command of an aircraft who bears final responsibility for the flight and passengers.
负责人fù zé rén: A person who oversees a task or organization, makes decisions, and coordinates the work.
水手shuí shǒu: A ship crew member who handles practical tasks such as deck work, equipment checks, and loading.
Definition in Chinese
指负责指挥船只航行并对船上人员、货物和船舶安全承担最终责任的人员或职务。zhǐ fù zé zhǐ huī chuán zhī háng xíng bìng duì chuán shàng rén yuán huò wù hé chuán bó ān quán chéng dān zuì zhōng zé rèn de rén yuán huò zhí wù
Word origin
船 (chuán, "boat") combines with 长 (zhǎng, "leader"), which marks the head of a group in titles, to name the leader of a ship.
Usage tips
- In English, captain can also mean a military officer or sports team leader, while this Chinese role is tied to command of a ship.
Related words
- 副船长fù chuán zhǎngdeputy captainnoun
- 代理船长dài lǐ chuán zhǎngacting captainnoun