匣 meaning and stroke order
Case, coffer, small box
How to write 匣, stroke by stroke
7 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
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Meaning of 匣
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- box
How 匣 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Box.
匚 gives the meaning and 甲 hints at the sound.
Radical: 匚 (box), shared by 14 characters on this site.
How to remember 匣
匚 is a box open on one side, and 甲 (jiǎ) sits inside it to give the sound. Picture a piece of armor 甲 packed into a box 匚, and you have 匣 (xiá), a small case.
匣 usually appears in compounds rather than alone, often as 匣子 (xiázi) for a small box or case. It shows up in words like 黑匣子 (hēixiázi), a flight recorder, and 弹匣 (dànxiá), an ammunition magazine. Example: 飞机的黑匣子找到了。(Fēijī de hēixiázi zhǎodào le.) The plane's black box has been found.
Common mistake: Learners often read 匣 as jiǎ because of the phonetic 甲, but the correct reading is xiá with a second tone. Also do not confuse it with 匡 (kuāng) or 匠 (jiàng), which share the same 匚 frame but have different insides.
Common words with 匣
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 黑匣子 | hēixiázi | (airplane) black box | |
| 弹匣 | dànxiá | magazine (for ammunition) |
Questions about 匣
How many strokes are in 匣?
匣 is written with 7 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 匣 mean?
匣 (xiá) means case, coffer, small box. A common word with it is 黑匣子 (hēixiázi), meaning "(airplane) black box".
How do you pronounce 匣?
匣 is pronounced xiá, in the second tone (rising).
What is the radical of 匣?
The radical of 匣 is 匚, which carries the idea of "box". Dictionaries list 匣 under this radical.
What is the difference between 匣子 and 盒子?
Both mean a small box. 盒子 (hézi) is the everyday word for most boxes, while 匣子 (xiázi) sounds more old-fashioned and often suggests a sturdy case, such as a jewelry box or a wooden chest.
Why is a flight recorder called 黑匣子 if it is not black?
The name is a direct translation of the English term black box. Real flight recorders are usually bright orange, but Chinese kept the literal name 黑匣子.