收藏

• Pinyin: shōu cáng
• Hanzi breakdown: 收 = to receive, gather; 藏 = to store, hide — to collect, collection

Meaning

To collect; to bookmark; collection. Gathering and preserving items of value or interest.

Can refer to physical collecting (art, antiques, stamps) or digital bookmarking (websites, articles). As a noun, refers to a collection or the act of collecting. Common compounds: 收藏家 (collector), 私人收藏 (private collection). Digital usage: 收藏夹 (favorites folder).

Examples

1. 这位富商收藏了大量明清时期的瓷器。 This wealthy businessman has collected a large number of Ming and Qing dynasty porcelains.
2. 我把这篇文章收藏了，以后再仔细看。 I bookmarked this article to read carefully later.
3. 他的书法作品被国家博物馆收藏。 His calligraphy works have been collected by the National Museum.

Usage Guide

Context: hobbies, art, digital

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 这幅画值得收藏。(This painting is worth collecting.)
• 点击这里可以收藏网页。(Click here to bookmark the webpage.)

Don't Say

• 暂时存放东西不叫'收藏' (Temporarily storing things isn't called 收藏 — use 存放 or 保管)

Origin & History

Compound of 收 (to receive, gather) + 藏 (to store, hide). Together meaning to gather and store valuables.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal