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罐头 (guàn tou) — can, tin (metal container for food); canned food

Definition

罐头 specifically means a tinned/canned food item, not the empty container itself (use 罐 for the jar/pot). Distinct from 桶, which is a bucket or barrel, not a sealed food tin.

noun
cantin (metal container for food)canned food
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 罐头罐头。
    Wǒ qù chāo shì mǎi le jǐ guàn tou gè guàn tou.
    I went to the supermarket and bought several cans.
  • 罐头，。
    Zhè ge guàn tou de wèi dào bú cuò, jiù shì yǒu diǎn xián.
    This can of food tastes good, just a bit salty.
  • 罐头，。
    Tā jiā lǐ cún le hěn duō guàn tou, yǐ bèi bù shí zhī xū.
    He stocked up on a lot of canned goods at home, just in case.

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.

罐guàncontainer
头tóusuffix

罐 carries the container idea, while 头 simply forms the common word.

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
缶缶fǒupottery
Sound part声符shēngfú
雚
雚guàn罐guàn(r)
Same sound today

The left part 缶 shows pottery, while the right part 雚 gives the pronunciation.

Open 罐 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 頭; 头 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
頁頁yèhead
Sound part声符shēngfú
豆
豆dòu頭tóu
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 頭 shows 頁, meaning head, beside 豆 as a sound component; the simplified 头 is a later shorthand.

Open 头 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9HSK 2.0 Level 5Food (General)

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