舶

A phono-semantic compound:

舟 (boat, ship) — semantic component, indicates relation to ships or navigation

白 (white) — phonetic component, supplies the pronunciation (bak / bó)

舶 originally referred to "a large ship, especially one used for long-distance or overseas travel."

It was used to distinguish large, seaworthy vessels from smaller boats.

선박 (船舶) — ship; vessel

외항선박 — ocean-going vessel

舶 implies scale, formality, and seaworthiness.

Nuance and contrast

舟 — boat (general, small)

船 — ship (general term)

舶 — large ship (formal, maritime, commercial)

In classical and medieval East Asia, 舶 often appeared in contexts involving:

- maritime trade

- foreign ships

- port administration

In Chinese historical texts, 舶 is sometimes associated with overseas commerce and foreign merchants, especially during the Tang and Song dynasties.