The character 保 — “protect”: how to write it and what it means
protect, keep
The Chinese character 保 is read bǎo and means “protect, keep”. Below: the stroke order step by step, what the character is made of and the words it appears in.
Stroke order: how to write 保
保 has 9 strokes. At each step the new stroke is highlighted — write them in the same order: top to bottom and left to right, horizontal before vertical, a frame before what is inside it, and the bottom stroke of the frame last.
To train your hand, print a handwriting sheet for 保, with strokes to trace and empty squares.
Words with 保
- 保证guarantee; a guaranteeHSK 4
- 保护protect, defendHSK 4
- 环保environmental protection; eco-friendlyHSK 4
- 保安security guard; securityHSK 5
- 保持keep, maintainHSK 5
- 确保ensure, guaranteeHSK 5
- 保险insurance; safeHSK 5
- 保存keep, save (a file)HSK 5
- 保留retain, preserveHSK 5
- 保质期shelf lifeHSK 5
- 保管keep (in custody); guaranteeHSK 6
- 保暖keep warm, insulateHSK 6
- 保修service under warrantyHSK 6
- 保健take care of health; health careHSK 6
- 保障guarantee; protectionHSK 6
Frequently asked questions
How do you write the character 保?
保 has 9 strokes. They follow the usual rules: top to bottom, left to right, horizontal before vertical, outside before inside. The order of each stroke is shown on this page.
What does 保 mean?
保 means “protect, keep”. It appears in 保证 (“guarantee”), 保护 (“protect”), 环保 (“environmental protection”), 保安 (“security guard”).
How do you pronounce 保?
保 is read bǎo. The tone is part of the reading: with another melody it becomes another syllable.
How many strokes does 保 have?
9 strokes.
More characters on the page “Chinese characters with meanings” and in the list of HSK characters by level; whole words are in the dictionary.
Write 保 yourself
In the lessons you write characters stroke by stroke with a finger or a mouse, and the course checks the order. You can start for free, no sign-up needed.
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