珍藏

• Pinyin: zhēn cáng
• Hanzi breakdown: 珍 = 王 + 㐱 (precious gem); 藏 = 艹 + 臣 + 戈 (store/conceal)

Meaning

To treasure and keep; a treasured collection. To carefully preserve something of great personal or cultural value.

Used for prized possessions, rare artefacts, or deeply meaningful mementos. Common in museum contexts (珍藏文物) and personal collections (私人珍藏).

Examples

1. 他珍藏着一批清朝的瓷器，每一件都价值不菲。 He treasures a collection of Qing-dynasty porcelain; each piece is extremely valuable.
2. 这本书是她多年来的珍藏，书页已经泛黄。 This book has been one of her treasured possessions for years, and the pages have already yellowed.
3. 博物馆将这幅名画作为镇馆之宝加以珍藏。 The museum carefully preserves this famous painting as its signature masterpiece.

Usage Guide

Context: culture, personal

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 这些邮票是我多年的珍藏，不轻易示人。(These stamps are my treasured collection of many years — I rarely show them to others.)
• 图书馆珍藏了一批孤本古籍，供学者研究。(The library holds a treasured collection of rare ancient texts for scholars to study.)

Don't Say

• 我珍藏了这个记忆 — abstract memories are not 珍藏; use 铭记 (engrave in memory) or 珍贵的记忆 (cherished memory) instead

Origin & History

珍 (precious/gem) + 藏 (store/conceal)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal