收藏 (shōu cáng) — to collect (valuables, antiques, stamps, etc.);… | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

收藏 (shōucáng) means 'to collect' as a hobby or to 'bookmark' online. 收集 is the everyday verb for gathering things; 珍藏 adds a sense of treasuring precious items.

verb

to collect (valuables, antiques, stamps, etc.)to bookmark (a web page, article, or post)

Examples

收藏。
Tā shōu cáng le hěn duō gǔ qián bì.
He collected many ancient coins.
收藏。
Nǐ kě yǐ shōu cáng zhè piān wén zhāng.
You can bookmark this article.
收藏。
Tā shōu cáng le xǔ duō zhēn guì de yóu piào.
He collected many precious stamps.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

收 means gather and 藏 means store, so 收藏 means to collect and keep.

Characters in this word

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

攴攴pū

Sound part声符shēngfú

丩

丩jiū收shōu

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

收 uses 攴 to show an action and 丩 as a sound clue; the old meaning was 'to arrest.'

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

艸艸cǎograss

Sound part声符shēngfú

臧

臧zāng藏cáng

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

藏 is made from 艸 (grass) and 臧, where 臧 gives the sound.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 6 HSK 2.0 Level 6 Hobbies & Pastimes 5000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

Browse more HSK 6 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.