箱

xiāng

相 + 竹

Definitions

xiāng (noun) box; chest; trunk

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. ⺮ represents the meaning and 相 represents the sound.

Semantic: ⺮ Phonetic: 相

About

The character 箱 is a phono-semantic compound: the upper bamboo radical ⺮ (竹) signals that these objects were originally made of bamboo, while the lower component 相 (xiāng) supplies the pronunciation. It originally referred to a specific type of bamboo basket or a storage compartment in a carriage or cart. Over time, its meaning gradually broadened to encompass any box, chest, or case, regardless of material. In modern Chinese, it frequently combines with other characters to form words for various containers, such as 行李箱 (luggage) and 集装箱 (shipping container), reflecting its evolution from a specialized bamboo object to a general term for storage receptacles.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这是一个箱子。

Zhè shì yīgè xiāngzi.

This is a box.

行李箱在门口。

Xínglǐxiāng zài ménkǒu.

The suitcase is at the door.

请打开那个纸箱。

Qǐng dǎkāi nàgè zhǐxiāng.

Please open that cardboard box.

她把礼物放进珠宝箱。

Tā bǎ lǐwù fàng jìn zhūbǎo xiāng.

She put the gift into the jewelry box.

这个工具箱里工具很全。

Zhège gōngjù xiāng lǐ gōngjù hěn quán.

The tools in this toolbox are very complete.

他把珍藏的照片锁在铁箱里。

Tā bǎ zhēncáng de zhàopiàn suǒ zài tiě xiāng lǐ.

He locked the treasured photos in the iron box.

运输货箱时需要小心轻放。

Yùnshū huòxiāng shí xūyào xiǎoxīn qīng fàng.

When transporting cargo containers, handle with care.

这款冰箱的智能控制系统非常先进。

Zhè kuǎn bīngxiāng de zhìnéng kòngzhì xìtǒng fēichāng xiānjìn.

The intelligent control system of this refrigerator is very advanced.

Related Characters

Component: 相

Component: 竹

箱