verb / measure word HSK 5
Traditional 載
to carry · to load · to transport · year (formal measure)
Meaning
载 means to carry, load, or transport something, typically used for vehicles carrying people or cargo. It also appears in formal contexts as a measure word for years, particularly in written or literary Chinese. The character combines the concept of bearing weight or responsibility.
Usage
As a verb, 载 is commonly used with vehicles and transportation contexts (载人, 载货). In formal writing, 载 appears in set phrases meaning 'year' or in compounds expressing abundance (满载而归). It's more formal than everyday spoken alternatives like 装 or 带.
Examples
- 01这辆卡车可以载五吨货物。.This truck can carry five tons of cargo.
- 02船上载着一百多名乘客。.The ship is carrying over one hundred passengers.
Common collocations
- 载客to carry passengers
- 载货to carry cargo
- 满载fully loaded
- 下载to download
Antonyms
Origin
The traditional form 載 originally depicted a cart or vehicle (車) carrying something. The simplified form 载 preserves the core meaning of carrying or bearing a load.