潜艇

• Pinyin: qián tǐng
• Hanzi breakdown: 潜 = 氵(water) + 替 (hidden/submerged, phonetic); 艇 = 舟 (boat) + 廷 (court/hall, phonetic)

Meaning

Submarine. A watercraft capable of operating beneath the water's surface, used for military or deep-sea research purposes.

Primarily used in military and naval contexts. Nuclear-powered submarines (核潜艇) are central to national defence discussions. Also appears in oceanographic research contexts. Common compound terms include 攻击型潜艇 (attack submarine) and 战略导弹潜艇 (ballistic missile submarine).

Examples

1. 这艘核动力潜艇可在水下连续航行数月，无需浮出水面补充燃料。 This nuclear-powered submarine can remain underwater for months at a time without surfacing to refuel.
2. 海军在南海举行了一次大规模潜艇演习，检验了部队的水下作战能力。 The navy held a large-scale submarine drill in the South China Sea to test its underwater combat capabilities.
3. 科学家们乘坐深海潜艇下潜至五千米处，采集到了珍贵的深海生物样本。 Scientists rode a deep-sea sub down to 5,000 meters and collected precious deep-ocean biological samples.

Usage Guide

Context: military, naval, technology

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 该国海军最新型战略导弹潜艇已正式服役，标志着其水下核威慑力量迈上了新台阶。(The country's latest strategic ballistic missile submarine has officially entered service, marking a new step forward in its underwater nuclear deterrence capability.)
• 深海科考潜艇在七千米深处发现了此前从未记录过的新型热泉生态系统，为海洋生物学研究开辟了崭新的方向。(The deep-sea research submarine discovered a previously unrecorded new hydrothermal vent ecosystem at a depth of seven thousand metres, opening a new direction for marine biology research.)

Don't Say

• 潜艇在水下游泳 — 潜艇 is a vessel; it 航行 (navigates) underwater, not 游泳 (swims); say 潜艇在水下航行

Origin & History

潜 (submerged/hidden) + 艇 (small vessel/boat) — a vessel that travels submerged beneath the water

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal