匣 (xiá) — (bound form) small box, case
Definition
匣 (xiá) is a bound form meaning 'small box' or 'case', almost always used with 子 to form 匣子. It refers to a lidded container, often a tea caddy (茶匣) or jewelry case (木匣).
bound form
small boxcase
Easily confused
- 匝zālook-alike(bound form) to go around, to circle
- 侠xiásound-alikechivalrous hero; knight-errant (in Chinese martial arts and folklore)
- 狭xiásound-alikenarrow
- 瑕xiásound-alike(bound form) flaw, blemish, defect
- 霞xiásound-alike(bound form) rosy cloud; morning/evening glow
- 辖xiásound-alike(bound form) to have jurisdiction over, to administer
Examples
- 。Tā bǎ zhū bǎo fàng zài yí gè mù xiá zi lǐ.He put the jewels in a wooden box.
- ，。Zhè ge xiá zi suī rán xiǎo, dàn hěn jīng zhì.This box is small but very delicate.
- 匣。Chá xiá lǐ de chá yè hěn xiāng.The tea leaves in the tea caddy are very fragrant.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost 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
匚匚fāng
Sound part声符shēngfú
甲
甲jiǎ匣xiá
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.
匣 uses 匚 to show the idea of a box or case, and 甲 to give the sound.
Appears in
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