桩

• Pinyin: zhuāng
• Hanzi breakdown: 桩 = 木 + 庄 (wooden stake)

Meaning

Stake; pile; post. Also a measure word for matters, affairs, or incidents.

As a noun, refers to wooden or concrete posts driven into the ground for construction or support. As a measure word, counts abstract matters like business deals, court cases, or incidents. Very common in formal and news contexts.

Examples

1. 工人们在河边打下了几十根木桩。 The workers drove dozens of wooden stakes into the riverbank.
2. 这桩婚事最终没有成功。 In the end, this marriage arrangement didn't work out.
3. 法院今天审理了一桩重大经济案件。 The court heard a major economic case today.

Usage Guide

Context: construction, legal, news

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 这桩交易涉及数亿元资金。(This deal involves hundreds of millions of yuan.)
• 他一生经历了许多桩大事小情。(He experienced many matters big and small in his life.)

Don't Say

• 一桩人 — 桩 is not used for people; use 个 or 位 instead

Origin & History

Pictophonetic: 木 (wood) + 庄 (phonetic)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal