套

• Pinyin: tào
• Hanzi breakdown: 套 = 大 (big) + 长 (long, variant form) — something that covers or encloses another thing

Meaning

Set; suite. A measure word for things that come as a complete group or collection.

Used as a measure word for complete sets of items: 一套衣服 (a suit/outfit), 一套房子 (an apartment), 一套书 (a set of books). Can also mean a cover or sheath, as in 手套 (gloves). Very common in shopping and real estate contexts.

Examples

1. 她买了一套新衣服。 She bought a new outfit.
2. 这套书一共有十本。 This set of books has ten volumes in total.
3. 我们想买一套房子。 We want to buy an apartment.

Usage Guide

Context: shopping, real estate, counting sets

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 我想买一套茶具。(I want to buy a tea set.)
• 他有三套西装。(He has three suits.)

Don't Say

• 一套苹果 (Don't use 套 for individual items — it's for complete sets; say 一个苹果 for a single apple)

Origin & History

Originally depicted something placed over or enclosing another object, like a cover or case. The meaning extended to refer to a matched set of items that belong together.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal