Definition
保 (bǎo) is a general verb meaning 'to protect, guarantee, maintain', but it's most often used as a root in compounds. Its siblings are more specific: 保证 (bǎozhèng) 'to guarantee/ensure', 确保 (quèbǎo) 'to ensure', 维护 (wéihù) 'to safeguard/maintain', 保管 (bǎoguǎn) 'to keep safe/be certain', and 保修 (bǎoxiū) 'to be under warranty'. As a noun, 保 means 'a guarantee/warranty'.
verb
to protectto guaranteeto maintain
noun
a guaranteewarranty
Easily confused
- 煲bāolook-alike(noun) a pot or saucepan, especially a clay pot for slow-cooking
- 包bāosound-alike(verb) to wrap; to bundle
- 抱bàosound-aliketo hold in one's arms; to hug; to embrace
- 报bàosound-aliketo report, to announce
- 爆bàosound-aliketo explode, to burst
- 宝bǎosound-aliketreasure; gem; precious object
- 饱bǎosound-alikefull (after eating)
- 薄báosound-alikethin (in thickness)
- 剥bāosound-aliketo peel, to skin, to shell
- 豹bàosound-alikeleopard, panther
Examples
- 。Wǒ huì Bǎo hù nǐ de ānquán.I will protect your safety.
- 。Tā Bǎo zhèng míngtiān jiù néng wánchéng.She guarantees it can be finished tomorrow.
- 。Zhège chǎnpǐn yǒu yì nián de zhìliàng Bǎozhèng.This product has a one-year quality guarantee.
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