箱 meaning and stroke order
Box; trunk; chest
How to write 箱, stroke by stroke
15 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 箱
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- box
- trunk
- chest
How 箱 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Bamboo.
⺮ gives the meaning and 相 hints at the sound.
Radical: ⺮ (bamboo), shared by 149 characters on this site.
How to remember 箱
箱 is bamboo ⺮ on top of 相 (xiāng), which gives the sound. Picture an old box woven from bamboo strips, and 相 tells you to say it xiāng.
箱 is usually used inside words rather than alone. It names containers big and small, from 箱子 (xiāngzi) suitcase to 冰箱 (bīngxiāng) fridge and 邮箱 (yóuxiāng) mailbox or email inbox. Example: 把牛奶放进冰箱。 (Bǎ niúnǎi fàng jìn bīngxiāng.) Put the milk in the fridge.
Common mistake: Learners often write 相 (xiāng) without the bamboo top, or confuse 箱 with 厢 (xiāng), which means a room or compartment, as in 车厢 (chēxiāng) train carriage. A box is 箱 with bamboo, and a carriage is 厢.
Common words with 箱
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 邮箱 | yóuxiāng | mailbox; post office box | HSK 3 |
| 箱子 | xiāngzi | suitcase; chest | HSK 4 |
| 冰箱 | bīngxiāng | refrigerator; (old) icebox | HSK 4 |
| 信箱 | xìnxiāng | mailbox; post office box | HSK 5 |
| 后备箱 | hòubèixiāng | trunk; boot (of a car) | HSK 7-9 |
| 集装箱 | jízhuāngxiāng | container (for shipping) | HSK 7-9 |
| 保险箱 | bǎoxiǎnxiāng | safe deposit box; safe | |
| 行李箱 | xínglixiāng | suitcase; baggage compartment | |
| 手提箱 | shǒutíxiāng | suitcase | |
| 烤箱 | kǎoxiāng | oven | |
| 语音信箱 | yǔyīnxìnxiāng | voice mailbox; voicemail | |
| 垃圾箱 | lājīxiāng | rubbish can; garbage can | |
| 油箱 | yóuxiāng | fuel tank | |
| 工具箱 | gōngjùxiāng | toolbox |
箱 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 箱
How many strokes are in 箱?
箱 is written with 15 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 箱 mean?
箱 (xiāng) means box; trunk; chest. A common word with it is 邮箱 (yóuxiāng), meaning "mailbox; post office box".
How do you pronounce 箱?
箱 is pronounced xiāng, in the first tone (high and level).
What is the radical of 箱?
The radical of 箱 is ⺮, which carries the idea of "bamboo". Dictionaries list 箱 under this radical.
Is 箱 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 箱 is part of the HSK 3 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard.
Does 邮箱 mean email or a physical mailbox?
It can mean both. In daily life today 邮箱 (yóuxiāng) most often means an email inbox, as in 你的邮箱是什么? What is your email address? 信箱 (xìnxiāng) leans more toward a physical letter box.
What is the difference between 箱子 and 盒子?
箱子 (xiāngzi) is a larger box, case, or suitcase. 盒子 (hézi) is a small box, like one for a gift or jewelry. 箱 can also be a measure word, as in 一箱水 (yì xiāng shuǐ) a case of water.