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珍藏 (zhēn cáng) — to treasure, to collect and keep (valuable items); a collection of treasured items

Definition

珍藏 is 'to treasure and keep' valuable items, often implying deliberate preservation over time. Stronger and more concrete than the abstract 珍惜/珍重 ('cherish' people or memories); emphasizes physical storage like 收藏.

to treasureto collect and keep (valuable items)a collection of treasured items

Examples

  • 珍藏。
    Tā bǎ zhè xiē zhào piàn zhēn cáng zài xiàng cè lǐ.
    He treasured these photos in an album.
  • 珍藏。
    Tā de zhēn cáng zhōng yǒu hěn duō lǎo zhào piàn.
    His collection contains many old photos.
  • 珍藏。
    Tā zhēn cáng zhe nà fēng xìn.
    She treasures that letter.

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.

珍zhēnprecious
藏cángstore

珍 'precious' and 藏 'store' combine: to store something precious or a precious collection.

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
玉玉yù
Sound part声符shēngfú
㐱
㐱㐱珍
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

珍 pairs 玉, a jade or gem, with 㐱, which gives the sound; the 玉 part fits its early meaning of a rich gemstone.

Open 珍 →

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.

Open 藏 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Hobbies & Pastimes

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