noun
A small flat-bottomed wooden boat of Chinese origin, used for transport or as a lighter/ferry in East Asian waters.
from Chinese
港でサンパンに乗って対岸へ渡った。
I crossed to the opposite shore by sampan at the harbor.
この川では今でも三板が使われている。
Sampans are still used on this river.
From Chinese 三板 (sānbǎn), literally 'three planks', referring to the boat's simple construction.