舱

• Pinyin: cāng
• Hanzi breakdown: 舱 = 舟 (boat) + 仓 (storehouse/phonetic)

Meaning

Cabin; compartment (of a ship, aircraft, or spacecraft).

Refers to an enclosed compartment in a vessel or vehicle for passengers, cargo, or crew. Common compounds include 客舱 (passenger cabin), 货舱 (cargo hold), 驾驶舱 (cockpit), and 太空舱 (space capsule).

Examples

1. 飞机头等舱的座椅宽敞舒适，服务也更加周到细致。 The first-class seats on the plane are spacious and comfortable, with noticeably more attentive service.
2. 船舱内突然进水，船员们紧急启动了应急抽水设备。 Water suddenly flooded into the ship's hold, and the crew urgently activated the emergency pumping equipment.
3. 神舟飞船返回舱在预定区域成功着陆，三名航天员安全出舱。 The Shenzhou spacecraft's re-entry capsule landed successfully in the designated area, and the three astronauts safely exited.

Usage Guide

Context: aviation, shipping, space, travel, technology

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 这艘邮轮共有十二层甲板，内舱和外舱的价格差距相当大。(This cruise ship has twelve decks, and the price gap between inside and outside cabins is quite significant.)
• 飞机即将起飞，请所有乘客回到座位并系好安全带。(The aircraft is about to take off — all passengers please return to your seats and fasten your seatbelts.)

Don't Say

• 他住在一间很小的舱。(舱 is not used on its own to mean a room; use 船舱 or 机舱 with the appropriate vessel type)

Origin & History

舱 = 舟 (boat) + 仓 (storehouse). The character depicts the storage/living space within a vessel.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal