箱

• Pinyin: xiāng
• Hanzi breakdown: 箱 = 竹 (bamboo) + 相 (mutual, phonetic component) — originally a bamboo box or chest

Meaning

Box; chest; case. Used as a measure word for boxed or crated items, and as a noun component in compound words.

Primarily functions as a measure word for containers like boxes and crates: 一箱苹果 (a box of apples), 两箱水 (two crates of water). Also appears in compound nouns: 箱子 (box/suitcase), 行李箱 (suitcase), 邮箱 (mailbox). The measure word usage is very common in shopping and logistics contexts.

Examples

1. 他搬来了三箱书，摆满了整个书架。 He moved three boxes of books, filling up the entire bookshelf.
2. 超市促销，买两箱饮料只要五十元。 The supermarket is running a promotion: buy two crates of drinks for only fifty yuan.
3. 快递送来了一箱新鲜水果，是朋友寄来的。 A delivery arrived with a box of fresh fruit — it was sent by a friend.

Usage Guide

Context: shopping, logistics, everyday

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 我买了两箱牛奶，放在冰箱里了。(I bought two boxes of milk and put them in the fridge.)
• 请帮我把那箱东西搬到楼上去。(Please help me carry that box of things upstairs.)

Don't Say

• 把箱用于无法装入箱中的散装物品。(Don't use 箱 as a measure word for items not packaged in a box — use appropriate measure words like 袋 (bag), 堆 (pile), or 桶 (barrel) for those.)

Origin & History

Composed of 竹 (bamboo) and 相 (mutual, phonetic), originally referring to a bamboo chest or container.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal