Usage note
船用来指代水上交通工具，比如小船、大船等。
chuán lái zǔdài shuǐ shàng chūnbùgōngzú, bì如：小船、大船等。
船 is used to refer to water transportation tools, such as small boats and large ships.
Context note
船常见于描述水上活动，比如划船、乘船旅行等。
chuán jìncān yú miáo shù shuǐ shàng huódòng, bì如：划船、乘船旅行等。
Ship is commonly used in describing water activities, such as rowing a boat and traveling by ship.
5 examples
我们去划船。
wǒ men qù huá chuán。
We go rowing a boat.
他乘船去了上海。
tā chéng chuán qù le shàng hǎi。
He traveled to Shanghai by ship.
这是一艘大船。
zhè shì yì sōu dà chuán。
This is a large ship.
我们乘船去度假。
wǒ men chéng chuán qù dù jià。
We travel by ship for vacation.
船上有很多人。
chuán shàng yǒu hěn duō rén。
There are many people on the boat.
5 mini stories
小明和爸爸去划船，他们玩得很开心。
xiǎo míng hé bà ba qù huá chuán， tā men wán dé hěn kāi xīn。
Xiaoming and his father went rowing, they had a lot of fun.
妈妈带我们乘船去旅游。
mā ma dài wǒ men chéng chuán qù lǚ yóu。
Mom took us on a trip by ship.
爷爷小时候经常乘船去上学。
yé ye xiǎo shí hòu jīng cháng chéng chuán qù shàng xué。
Grandpa used to go to school by ship when he was young.
姐姐在船上唱歌，大家都跟着唱起来。
jiě jie zài chuán shàng chàng gē， dà jiā dōu gēn zhe chàng qǐ lái。
Sister sang on the boat, everyone joined in.
爸爸教我如何安全乘船。
bà ba jiào wǒ rú hé ān quán chéng chuán。
Dad taught me how to travel safely by ship.
Mini dialogue
公园
A
湖上有一只小船。
Hú shàng yǒu yì zhī xiǎo chuán.
There is a small boat on the lake.
B
我们一起去划船吧。
Wǒmen yìqǐ qù huá chuán ba.
Let's go rowing a boat together.
旅行
A
你坐过船吗？
Nǐ zuò guo chuán ma?
Have you ever taken a boat?
B
坐过，大船很稳。
Zuò guo, dà chuán hěn wěn.
Yes, the big boat is very steady.
Related words and contrasts
similar
小船
xiǎo chuán
small boat
A little boat that can float on water.
related
轮船
lún chuán
steamship
A big boat that can carry many people or things.