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箱子 (xiāng zi) — box, case, chest, trunk, suitcase (a container for holding or transporting items)

Definition

箱子 (xiāngzi) is a large container for transporting or storing things — suitcases, trunks, shipping crates. Bigger and sturdier than 盒子 (a small box, like for jewelry or gifts).

noun
boxcasechesttrunksuitcase (a container for holding or transporting items)
Measure word · 只, 个

Examples

  • 箱子。
    Wǒ bǎ zhè ge xiāng zi bān dào lóu shàng qù.
    I'll move this box upstairs.
  • 箱子。
    Nà ge xiāng zi lǐ zhuāng le hěn duō shū.
    That case is packed with a lot of books.
  • 箱子。
    Tā mǎi le liǎng gè dà xiāng zi lǚ xíng.
    He bought two large suitcases for the trip.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

箱xiāngbox
子zǐnominalizing

箱子 names a box, with 箱 giving the container meaning and 子 completing the common name.

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
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 →

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

子 is drawn as a baby with a large head, arms stretched out, and legs wrapped in a blanket.

Open 子 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 3Everyday Objects2000 Most Frequent Chinese Words3000 Most Frequent Chinese Words5000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

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