Sampan

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Categories: Boat types | Chinese words and phrases

For the commune in France, see Sampans, Jura.

A sampan carrying passengers to the outlying islands off the Sai Kung Peninsula in Hong Kong

Sampan on the Yangtze River (Chang Jiang), China

A sampan (Chinese: 舢舨) is a relatively flat bottomed Chinese wooden boat from 3.5 to 4.5 m (approximately twelve to fifteen feet) long. Some sampans include a small shelter on board, and may be used as a permanent habitation on inland waters. Sampans are generally used for fishing or transportation, in coastal areas or rivers. It is unusual for a sampan to sail far from land as they do not have the means to survive rough weather.

The term sampan literally means three planks in Cantonese language, it is derived from the words Sam (three) and pan (plank). [1]

Sampans are still in use by rural residents of Southeast Asia, particularly Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam.

Sampans may be propelled by oars or may be fitted with outboard motors. These motors may be powered by petrol. However, not all outboard motors are petrol powered (such as the electric motors used in a Malaysian firefly sanctuary, as petrol fumes are toxic to fireflies.)