HSK 5 · Verbs

保存 bǎocún “to conserve” in Chinese

Same in Traditional

What 保存 means

  1. to conserve
  2. to preserve
  3. to keep
  4. to store
  5. (computing) to save (a file etc)

How to say 保存

  • Pitch chart of the third tone: dips low then rises, 2 to 1 to 4 on the five-level scale保bǎo3rd tone, dipping
  • Pitch chart of the second tone: rises from mid to high, 3 to 5 on the five-level scale存cún2nd tone, rising

保存 in a sentence

  1. 把钱保存在安全的地方。

    Bǎ qián bǎocún zài ānquán de dìfang.

    Keep the money in a safe place.

    Sentence #894378 from Tatoeba · converted to simplified characters

  2. 开始下载时，请点击“保存”按钮。

    Kāishǐ xiàzài shí, qǐng diǎnjī “bǎocún” ànniǔ.

    When the download starts, please click the “Save” button.

    Sentence #3805027 from Tatoeba · translation adapted

  3. 盐可以帮助保存食物避免腐烂。

    Yán kěyǐ bāngzhù bǎocún shíwù bìmiǎn fǔlàn.

    Salt helps preserve food and stops it from rotting.

    Sentence #798097 from Tatoeba · converted to simplified characters · translation adapted

How 保存 is built

Each colour is one part of the character. Parts repeat across thousands of characters, so learning them makes new words easier. See all 214 in our radicals chart.

The character 保 (bǎo) with each of its parts in a different colour
保bǎoto defend; to protect; to keep
  • 亻person form of 人 · rénMeaning part
  • 呆dull · dāiSound part

亻 hints at the meaning (person); 呆 (dāi) hints at the sound. Compare it with bǎo.

The character 存 (cún) with each of its parts in a different colour
存cúnto exist
  • 才ability · cáiSound part
  • 子child · zǐMeaning part

子 hints at the meaning (child); 才 (cái) hints at the sound. Compare it with cún.

How to write 保存

保 9 strokes · 存 6 strokes

Watch the order, then press Try writing it and draw each stroke in the grid. Each stroke is checked as you go.

保存 (bǎocún) stroke order chart: each stroke of the characters in the order you write them
Stroke order chart for 保存 (bǎocún). Red marks the next stroke, so you can copy it onto paper one step at a time.

Words related to 保存

Words with 保

保证bǎozhèng · guarantee保护bǎohù · to protect保留bǎoliú · to keep保持bǎochí · to keep保险bǎoxiǎn · insurance保养bǎoyǎng · to take care of (one’s health)保重bǎozhòng · to take care of oneself保密bǎomì · to keep something secret保管bǎoguǎn · to look after确保quèbǎo · to ensure

Words with 存

存cún · to exist存在cúnzài · to exist储存chǔcún · to store生存shēngcún · to survive

More words: Common Verbs

办理bànlǐ · to handle包裹bāoguǒ · parcel包含bāohán · to contain保持bǎochí · to keep背bēi · to carry on one’s back避免bìmiǎn · to avoid表明biǎomíng · to make clear表现biǎoxiàn · to show

FAQs

保存 (bǎocún) means “to conserve” or “to preserve”. It is an HSK 5 word.
Say it bǎocún: bǎo with a 3rd tone, then cún with a 2nd tone. Press Listen at the top of this page to hear it, or Slowly to hear each tone clearly.
Yes. 保存 is written the same way in Simplified and Traditional characters.
Add a Chinese (Simplified) pinyin keyboard to your phone or computer, type baocun with no tone marks or spaces, then choose 保存 from the suggestions. Typing baocun into this dictionary’s search box finds it too.
保存 is an HSK 5 word in the HSK 2.0 word lists.

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Sources: meaning and pinyin checked by a native Mandarin teacher against the official HSK lists. Extra meanings from CC-CEDICT (CC BY-SA 4.0). Example sentences from Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR). Character parts and stroke order from Make Me a Hanzi.