装

• Pinyin: zhuāng
• Hanzi breakdown: 装 = 壮 (strong, phonetic) + 衣 (clothing)

Meaning

To pretend; to install; to load; to pack. A versatile verb with multiple common meanings.

The meaning varies by context: 装作 (to pretend), 安装 (to install), 装东西 (to pack/load things). Very context-dependent, making it an important word to master for natural comprehension.

Examples

1. 他装作没听见。 He pretended not to hear.
2. 请帮我把行李装进车里。 Please help me load the luggage into the car.
3. 工人正在装空调。 The workers are installing the air conditioner.

Usage Guide

Context: everyday, conversation

Tone: varied

Do Say

• 别装了，我知道你听见了。(Stop pretending — I know you heard it.)
• 把这些书装进箱子里。(Pack these books into the box.)

Don't Say

• 我装了一件新衣服。(Don't use 装 alone to mean 'to wear' — use 穿 for wearing clothes. 装 relates to packing, installing, or pretending.)

Origin & History

Originally related to clothing and covering, the meaning extended to loading, packing, and pretending.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal