龙舟

• Pinyin: lóng zhōu
• Hanzi breakdown: 龙 = pictograph of a dragon; 舟 = pictograph of a boat/vessel

Meaning

Dragon boat. A long, narrow racing boat decorated with a dragon's head and tail, used in the traditional Dragon Boat Festival race.

Central to the Dragon Boat Festival (端午节), held on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month. Associated with the story of the poet Qu Yuan. Dragon boat racing has spread internationally and is now a competitive sport. The boat embodies themes of teamwork, sacrifice, and cultural pride.

Examples

1. 端午节当天，河面上数十艘龙舟竞相划行，岸边观众的呐喊声此起彼伏。 On the Dragon Boat Festival, dozens of dragon boats raced across the river, while cheers from the crowd rose and fell along the banks.
2. 这支龙舟队由来自不同部门的员工组成，通过比赛增强了团队凝聚力。 This dragon boat team is made up of employees from different departments, and the races have strengthened the team’s cohesion.
3. 龙舟运动已被列入国际体育赛事项目，吸引了来自全球各地的参赛队伍。 Dragon boat racing has been included in international sports events, attracting teams from all over the world.

Usage Guide

Context: culture, sport, festival

Tone: festive

Do Say

• 每年端午节，镇上都会举办盛大的龙舟比赛，吸引数万市民前来观看。(Every year during the Dragon Boat Festival, the town holds a grand dragon boat race that attracts tens of thousands of spectators.)
• 参与龙舟训练不仅能锻炼体能，更能培养队员之间的默契与信任。(Participating in dragon boat training not only builds physical fitness but also cultivates understanding and trust among team members.)

Don't Say

• 将龙舟与普通船只混用 — 龙舟 specifically refers to the decorated racing dragon boat used in festival competition, not any ordinary boat (Don't use 龙舟 to mean just any boat — it specifically refers to the decorated festival racing vessel)

Origin & History

龙 (dragon) + 舟 (boat)

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient to present

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal