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B1 verb

捕捞

bulao

Practice it Notes & Tips

Difficulty Rating

Reading 2/5

Common characters, straightforward meaning in context.

Writing 2/5

Common characters, not too complex to write.

Speaking 2/5

Standard pronunciation, easy to say.

Listening 2/5

Clear pronunciation, easily distinguishable.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

鱼 (yú) - fish 海 (hǎi) - sea 抓 (zhuā) - to catch (general)

Learn Next

打渔 (dǎ yú) - to fish (colloquial) 捕鱼 (bǔ yú) - to fish (specifically for fish)

Advanced

渔业 (yú yè) - fishing industry 渔船 (yú chuán) - fishing boat 渔民 (yú mín) - fisherman

Word Family

Nouns

渔民 fisherman

渔船 fishing boat

渔业 fishery industry

捕捞业 fishing industry

How to Use It

捕捞 (bǔlāo) means to fish or to catch seafood. It is typically used for a larger scale of fishing, often by boats or in a commercial context, rather than casual recreational fishing. You can use it like this:

渔民正在捕捞鱼。 (Yúmín zhèngzài bǔlāo yú.) - Fishermen are fishing for fish.
他们在深海捕捞金枪鱼。 (Tāmen zài shēnhǎi bǔlāo jīnqiāngyú.) - They are deep-sea fishing for tuna.

Common Mistakes

A common mistake is to confuse 捕捞 (bǔlāo) with 钓鱼 (diàoyú). While both relate to catching fish, 钓鱼 specifically refers to fishing with a hook and line, often as a hobby. 捕捞 is a broader term for catching seafood, often on a larger, professional scale.

Incorrect: 我喜欢去湖边捕捞。(Wǒ xǐhuān qù húbiān bǔlāo.)
Correct: 我喜欢去湖边钓鱼。(Wǒ xǐhuān qù húbiān diàoyú.) - I like to go fishing by the lake.

Incorrect: 他用网钓鱼了很多虾。(Tā yòng wǎng diàoyú le hěn duō xiā.)
Correct: 他用网捕捞了很多虾。(Tā yòng wǎng bǔlāo le hěn duō xiā.) - He caught many shrimp with a net.

Tips

Basic Meaning

捕捞 (bǔ lāo) is a verb that means to fish or to catch seafood. Think of it as a more formal or professional way of saying 'fishing' when it involves commercial or large-scale operations.

Context of Use

You'll often hear 捕捞 in discussions about the fishing industry, marine conservation, or when talking about fishermen on a boat. It's less common for a casual 'going fishing' trip.

Component Breakdown

捕 (bǔ) means to catch or to seize. 捞 (lāo) means to scoop up or to fish out. Together, they combine to form the specific meaning of catching seafood.

Common Collocations

You might see it with words like 过度捕捞 (guò dù bǔ lāo), meaning overfishing, or 非法捕捞 (fēi fǎ bǔ lāo), meaning illegal fishing.

Example Sentence 1

渔民们每天都会出海捕捞。 (Yúmínmen měitiān dōu huì chūhǎi bǔlāo.)
Hint: The fishermen go out to sea to fish every day.

Example Sentence 2

禁止在这些水域捕捞。 (Jìnzhǐ zài zhèxiē shuǐyù bǔlāo.)
Hint: Fishing is forbidden in these waters.

Don't Confuse with '钓鱼'

While both relate to fishing, 钓鱼 (diào yú) specifically refers to angling or fishing with a rod and line, usually as a hobby. 捕捞 is broader and often implies commercial activity.

Importance in Coastal Regions

In many coastal areas of China, 捕捞 is a major industry and a significant part of the local economy and culture. Understanding this term helps you grasp discussions about these regions.

Formal vs. Informal

Think of 捕捞 as the more formal and professional term. For casual fishing with friends, 钓鱼 is the word you want. For broader, especially commercial, fishing, use 捕捞.

Pronunciation Practice

Pay attention to the tones: bǔ (third tone) and lāo (first tone). Practice saying them together to ensure you're pronouncing 捕捞 correctly.