柜橱 (guì chú) — cupboard, cabinet, closet

Definition

A general word for a cupboard, cabinet, or closet — furniture with doors or shelves for storing items. Covers kitchen cupboards, wardrobes for clothes, and similar storage pieces.

noun
cupboardcabinetcloset
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 柜橱。
    Chú fáng lǐ de guì chú fàng mǎn le wǎn hé pán zi.
    The cupboard in the kitchen is full of bowls and plates.
  • 柜橱，。
    Zhè ge guì chú shì yòng mù tou zuò de, hěn jiē shi.
    This cabinet is made of wood and is very sturdy.
  • 柜橱。
    Yī fu dōu shōu zài wò shì de guì chú lǐ.
    The clothes are all stored in the bedroom closet.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

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

柜guìcabinet
橱chúcupboard

柜 and 橱 both refer to storage furniture, so together they name a cupboard or cabinet.

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
木木mùtree
Sound part声符shēngfú
巨
巨jù柜
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

柜 combines 木 (tree) with 巨, which gives the sound.

Open 柜 →

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 橱 →

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