船只

• Pinyin: chuán zhī
• Hanzi breakdown: 船 = 舟 (boat) + 㕣 (phonetic), ship; 只 = 口 (mouth) + 八 (eight), here a collective suffix

Meaning

Ships; vessels; watercraft. A collective or formal term for boats and ships.

A formal or written term used to refer to ships collectively or individually in official contexts. More common in news reports, regulations, and formal documents than in everyday speech. 只 here functions as a collective suffix, similar to 车辆 for vehicles.

Examples

1. 港口停靠着来自世界各地的船只，场面非常壮观。 Ships from all over the world are docked at the port — it's quite a spectacular sight.
2. 台风来临前，所有船只必须返回港口避风。 Before the typhoon arrives, all vessels must return to port for shelter.
3. 海关对进出境船只实行严格的检查制度。 Customs implements a strict inspection system for all ships entering and leaving the country.

Usage Guide

Context: maritime, news, official

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 这片海域禁止任何船只通行。(No vessels are allowed to pass through this sea area.)
• 救援船只已经抵达事故现场。(Rescue ships have arrived at the accident scene.)

Don't Say

• 日常口语中说'船'或'那艘船'更自然，'船只'偏书面语 (In everyday speech, 船 or 那艘船 is more natural — 船只 sounds formal/written)

Origin & History

Combines 船 (ship/boat) with 只, a suffix used to form collective nouns for vehicles and vessels.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal