抽屉

• Pinyin: chōu ti
• Hanzi breakdown: 抽 = 扌 (hand) + 由 (from) = to pull out; 屉 = 尸 (body) + 世 (generation) = drawer/tray

Meaning

Drawer; a sliding compartment in a desk, dresser, or cabinet.

Common household furniture term. Often used metaphorically in business contexts like 抽屉协议 (secret agreement kept hidden). The pronunciation uses a rare neutral tone on 屉.

Examples

1. 钥匙就在书桌第二个抽屉里。 The key is in the second drawer of the desk.
2. 她把重要文件都锁在抽屉里。 She keeps all her important documents locked in a drawer.
3. 这个抽屉卡住了，拉不开。 This drawer is stuck and won't open.

Usage Guide

Context: home, office, furniture

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 把文件放进抽屉里锁好。(Put the documents in the drawer and lock it.)
• 我翻遍了所有抽屉也没找到那张照片。(I searched through all the drawers but couldn't find that photo.)

Don't Say

• 打开抽屉门 (抽屉 doesn't have a 门; just say 打开抽屉 or 拉开抽屉)

Origin & History

Compound of 抽 (to pull/draw) and 屉 (a tray or drawer). 屉 originally referred to a removable tray.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal