包装箱 (bāo zhuāng xiāng) — packaging box, packing case

Definition

noun
packaging boxpacking case
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 包装箱。
    Zhè ge bāo zhuāng xiāng hěn jiē shi.
    This packaging box is very sturdy.
  • 包装箱。
    Qǐng bǎ huò wù fàng jìn bāo zhuāng xiāng lǐ.
    Please put the goods into the packaging box.
  • 包装箱。
    Wǒ men xū yào gèng duō de bāo zhuāng xiāng lái zhuāng zhè xiē chǎn pǐn.
    We need more packaging boxes to pack these products.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

包装packaging
包bāowrap装zhuāngpack
联合Side by side
箱xiāngbox

包 and 装 mean wrapping and packing, and 箱 is a box, so it is a box for packing things.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The shape of 包 pictures a fetus in a womb, or a baby wrapped in cloth.

Open 包 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 裝; 装 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
衣衣yīclothes
Sound part声符shēngfú
壯
壯zhuàng裝zhuāng
Same sound today

The traditional form 裝 pairs 衣 (clothes) with 壯 as a sound part; this story is about 裝, not the simplified 装.

Open 装 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
𥫗Written in full as竹zhúbamboo
Sound part声符shēngfú
相
相xiāng箱xiāng
Same sound today

箱 combines 竹, showing bamboo, with 相 as a sound part, to write a bamboo box or case.

Open 箱 →

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