筒

• Pinyin: tǒng
• Hanzi breakdown: 筒 = 竹 (bamboo) + 同 (phonetic)

Meaning

Tube; cylinder; pipe; sleeve.

A hollow cylindrical object. Used in many compounds: 圆筒 (cylinder), 话筒 (microphone), 袖筒 (sleeve), 邮筒 (mailbox). More refined than 桶, often for smaller or more precise objects.

Examples

1. 请对着话筒说话，声音要大一点。 Please speak into the microphone — a bit louder please.
2. 她从包里掏出一个万花筒，在阳光下看得入迷。 She pulled a kaleidoscope out of her bag and gazed through it, mesmerized by the sunlight.
3. 这种笔筒是用竹子做的，很有中国特色。 This pen holder is made of bamboo — it has a very Chinese character.

Usage Guide

Context: objects, equipment, containers

Tone: descriptive

Do Say

• 话筒。(Microphone.)
• 望远筒。(Spyglass.)

Don't Say

• 把大容器叫'筒' (筒 is for smaller cylindrical objects — for larger containers, use 桶)

Origin & History

Pictophonetic character: 竹 (bamboo radical) + 同 (phonetic component). Originally bamboo tubes.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal