What's the difference between 舟 and 船?


They both mean "ship/boat". Are they completely interchangeable? Do they
signify boats of different sizes or uses (people, cargo, etc.)? Is only `船`
used in compounds to describe metaphorical "boats" of abstract usage, like
`[風船]{ふう・せん}`?




The interchangeability between [舟]{ふね} and [船]{ふね} , in theory, is close to
non-existent. In real life, however, it is left to the judgement of each
individual. Generally speaking, the more educated or well-read you are, the
less interchangeable the two will become.

In school, we are taught to use 舟 to refer to a small boat, usually (but not
necessarily) hand-rowed. 船 refers to a larger boat than a 舟. For this, 船 can
be used for a much wider variety of boat sizes. It is all about the physical
size, not the purpose of the boat (passengers. cargo, etc.).

Metaphorically, both 舟 and 船 are used as well.

舟：[助け舟]{たすけぶね} = "timely help or support", [舟]{ふね} = "a small boat-shaped dish
on which foods (like takoyaki and sashimi) are served", etc.

船：[飛行船]{ひこうせん} = "blimp", [宇宙船]{うちゅうせん} = "spaceship", etc.




The interchangeability between [舟]{ふね} and [船]{ふね} , in theory, is close to
non-existent. In real life, however, it is left to the judgement of each
individual. Generally speaking, the more educated or well-read you are, the
less interchangeable the two will become.

In school, we are taught to use 舟 to refer to a small boat, usually (but not
necessarily) hand-rowed. 船 refers to a larger boat than a 舟. For this, 船 can
be used for a much wider variety of boat sizes. It is all about the physical
size, not the purpose of the boat (passengers. cargo, etc.).

Metaphorically, both 舟 and 船 are used as well.

舟：[助け舟]{たすけぶね} = "timely help or support", [舟]{ふね} = "a small boat-shaped dish
on which foods (like takoyaki and sashimi) are served", etc.

船：[飛行船]{ひこうせん} = "blimp", [宇宙船]{うちゅうせん} = "spaceship", etc.

