盒

• Pinyin: hé
• Hanzi breakdown: 盒 = 合 (phonetic, to close) + 皿 (vessel)

Meaning

Box; case; carton. A small container, or measure word for boxed items.

Used as both noun and measure word. Refers to small containers typically with lids. As measure word, counts boxed items: 一盒巧克力, 一盒牛奶.

Examples

1. 请给我一盒牛奶。 Please give me a carton of milk.
2. 这盒饼干是送给你的礼物。 This box of cookies is a gift for you.
3. 把药放在盒里保存。 Store the medicine in the box.

Usage Guide

Context: shopping, packaging, storage, counting

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 买两盒鸡蛋。(Buy two cartons of eggs.)
• 这个盒子很漂亮。(This box is very pretty.)

Don't Say

• 一盒人 (盒 is for containers/boxed items, not people — there's no measure word 盒 for humans)

Origin & History

Pictophonetic: 皿 (vessel radical) + 合 (phonetic), representing a container that closes together.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal