Meaning of 册
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- book
- booklet
- classifier for books
How to use 册
册 is used as a measure word for books or volumes, often in more formal or written contexts, and it appears in many common words like 手册 (shǒucè) handbook and 注册 (zhùcè) to register. Example: 这套书一共有三册。(Zhè tào shū yígòng yǒu sān cè.) This set of books has three volumes in total.
册 (cè) looks like a row of vertical strips tied together by one horizontal line. Picture bamboo slips bound with a cord to make a little book.
Common mistake: Learners often use 册 as the everyday measure word for a single book, but in casual speech 本 (běn) is far more natural: say 一本书 (yì běn shū), not 一册书. Also take care not to write 册 like 用 (yòng). 册 has two vertical strips crossed by a horizontal line that sticks out on both sides.
册 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
册 cè · book · 5 strokes
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Related words
Words that share a character with 册.
Questions about 册
What does 册 mean?
册 (cè) means "book; booklet" and is used as a measure word.
How do you write 册?
册 is made of 1 character: 册 (5 strokes). That is 5 strokes in total.
Is 册 an HSK word?
Yes. 册 is on the HSK 5 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 册 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 册 is written 冊.
What is the difference between 册 and 本 as measure words?
本 (běn) is the normal measure word for any book or notebook. 册 (cè) usually counts volumes within a set or series, or is used in formal and written language, such as 第二册 (dì-èr cè) volume two.
Why does 注册 mean to register?
注 (zhù) means to record or note down, and 册 refers to a book or register. So 注册 is literally writing your name into a record book, which is why it means to register or sign up, for example on a website.