书柜

• Pinyin: shū guì
• Hanzi breakdown: 书 = simplified from 書, writing/book; 柜 = 木 (wood) + 巨 (large), a large wooden cabinet

Meaning

Bookcase; bookshelf. A piece of furniture for storing books.

A cabinet or shelving unit designed to hold books. Can range from small personal shelves to large built-in units. 书架 is another common word with similar meaning (shelf), while 书柜 specifically implies an enclosed cabinet-style piece.

Examples

1. 客厅的那个书柜是爸爸亲手做的，用了好几十年了。 The bookcase in the living room was handmade by Dad and has been used for decades.
2. 搬家之后我买了一个新书柜，终于能把所有书都整理好了。 After moving, I bought a new bookcase and can finally organize all my books.
3. 她的书柜里不光有书，还摆着各种旅行时买的小纪念品。 Her bookcase holds not only books but also various souvenirs from her travels.

Usage Guide

Context: furniture, home, everyday

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 把书放回书柜里。(Put the book back in the bookcase.)
• 我想买一个大一点的书柜。(I want to buy a bigger bookcase.)

Don't Say

• 书柜上有一本书 — for placing items on top, use 书柜上面; 书柜 typically implies inside or on the shelves

Origin & History

Compound of 书 (book) + 柜 (cabinet), meaning a cabinet for books.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal