A sampan (舢舨) is a Chinese wooden boat from twelve to fifteen feet long. Some sampans include a small shelter on board, and may be used as a permanent habitation on inland waters.
Sampan literally means three planks in Mandarin, San (three) and pan (plank).
Sampans are still in use by rural residents of Southeast Asia, particularly Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam, and are small fishing boats made of wood, about 10 feet long with no covering or shelter whatsoever, and have a relatively flat base.
Sampans may be rowed by hand or may be fitted with outboard motors. Generally these motors utilise petrol as fuel. However, at a firefly sanctuary in Malaysia, sampans use electric motors with rechargeable batteries as petrol fumes are toxic to the fireflies.
Generally sampans are used as a means of transportation on rivers. they can also be used close to shore. It is unusual for a sampan to sail far from land as they do not have the means to survive rough weather.
Sampan is also a shorter form of the Thai word for sex.
