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笼 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
笼lóngbasketn, 11 strokes, radical ⺮, rank #11225, Very Hard
笼lóngcagen, 11 strokes, radical ⺮, rank #11225, Very Hard
笼lóngflat bamboo basket used to serve dimsum 點心n, 11 strokes, radical ⺮, rank #11225, Very Hard
笼lóngto covern, 11 strokes, radical ⺮, rank #11225, Very Hard
笼lóngto cagen, 11 strokes, radical ⺮, rank #11225, Very Hard
笼lóngto embracen, 11 strokes, radical ⺮, rank #11225, Very Hard
笼lóngto manipulate through trickeryn, 11 strokes, radical ⺮, rank #11225, Very Hard
笼lóngcoveringn, 11 strokes, radical ⺮, rank #11225, Very Hard
笼lóngalso pr. [lóng]n, 11 strokes, radical ⺮, rank #11225, Very Hard
笼lóngbasket; cage; bamboo basket used to serve dimsumn, 11 strokes, radical ⺮, rank #11225, Very Hard
笼lóngflat bamboo basket used to serve dimsum 點心|点心[dian3 xin5]unknown, 11 strokes, radical ⺮, rank #11225, Very Hard
笼lóngalso pr. [long2]unknown, 11 strokes, radical ⺮, rank #11225, Very Hard
笼lǒngbasketn, 11 strokes, radical ⺮, rank #11225, Very Hard
笼lǒngcagen, 11 strokes, radical ⺮, rank #11225, Very Hard
笼lǒngflat bamboo basket used to serve dimsum 點心n, 11 strokes, radical ⺮, rank #11225, Very Hard
笼lǒngto covern, 11 strokes, radical ⺮, rank #11225, Very Hard
笼lǒngto cagen, 11 strokes, radical ⺮, rank #11225, Very Hard
笼lǒngto embracen, 11 strokes, radical ⺮, rank #11225, Very Hard
笼lǒngto manipulate through trickeryn, 11 strokes, radical ⺮, rank #11225, Very Hard
笼lǒngcoveringn, 11 strokes, radical ⺮, rank #11225, Very Hard
笼lǒngalso pr. [lóng]n, 11 strokes, radical ⺮, rank #11225, Very Hard
笼lǒngbasket; cage; bamboo basket used to serve dimsumn, 11 strokes, radical ⺮, rank #11225, Very Hard
笼lǒngflat bamboo basket used to serve dimsum 點心|点心[dian3 xin5]unknown, 11 strokes, radical ⺮, rank #11225, Very Hard
笼lǒngalso pr. [long2]unknown, 11 strokes, radical ⺮, rank #11225, Very Hard
lóng(long2)
primary
 T2
  1. 1basket
  2. 2cage
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

笼(籠)lóng(long2)

The character 笼 (lóng) primarily means 'cage' or 'basket,' often referring to a flat bamboo basket used in dim sum serving. It can also imply the act of covering or enclosing something, and in certain contexts, it carries a nuance of manipulation or trickery.

Strokes11Radical⺮Frequency#11225DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese cuisine, dim sum is traditionally served in bamboo baskets, which reflects the importance of presentation and the communal dining experience in Chinese culture.

Memory Tip

Imagine a large, flat bamboo basket (笼) that embraces and holds delicious dim sum. The sound 'lóng' resembles 'long', as in a long basket that can contain many items, helping you visualize its use.

Meanings of 笼

lóng(long2)
primary
1basket
2cage
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 笼

笼Simplified
籠Traditional
11Strokes
⺮Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#11225Frequency Rank

Podcast: 笼

JasonAmy

Podcast: 笼

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 笼

Quick Contrast

笼 (lóng) vs 箱 (xiāng) — use 笼 for a cage or basket that encloses, while 箱 refers to a box that stores items.

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 笼 with similar-sounding characters like 龙 (lóng, dragon) due to tonal differences. It is used more in informal contexts, particularly in culinary settings, and is often collocated with food terms. Pay special attention to the third tone to avoid mispronouncing it.

HSK Study Tips

While 笼 is not specifically included in HSK vocabulary, it connects to HSK 3-4 words like 食物 (shíwù, food) and 盒子 (hézi, box). Focus on its usage in culinary contexts to enhance vocabulary around food and serving.

Common Mistakes

Learners often misuse 笼 in phrases where a different container word would be more appropriate, such as using it for a 'box' instead of 盒子 (hézi). Remember, 笼 specifically refers to baskets or cages.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 笼

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Etymology of 笼

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. ⺮ represents the meaning and 龙 represents the sound. Simplified form of 籠.

Memory Hint

bamboo

Semantic (meaning)⺮
+
Phonetic (sound)龙
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 笼

Phonosemantic compound. ⺮ represents the meaning and 龙 represents the sound. Simplified form of 籠.

  1. 1The meaning half⺮ carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half龙 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawaybamboo
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 笼? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 笼?

Decomposition of 笼

IDS Structure⿱⺮龙
笼Full Character
=
⺮zhu2
top
龙Long2
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 笼?

How to say basket in Chinese

“basket” in Chinese is笼lóng

The character 笼 (lóng) primarily means 'cage' or 'basket,' often referring to a flat bamboo basket used in dim sum serving. It can also imply the act of covering or enclosing something, and in certain contexts, it carries a nuance of manipulation or trickery.

When to use 笼

Learners often confuse 笼 with similar-sounding characters like 龙 (lóng, dragon) due to tonal differences. It is used more in informal contexts, particularly in culinary settings, and is often collocated with food terms. Pay special attention to the third tone to avoid mispronouncing it.

笼 or something close to it

笼 (lóng) vs 箱 (xiāng) — use 笼 for a cage or basket that encloses, while 箱 refers to a box that stores items.

What learners get wrong

Learners often misuse 笼 in phrases where a different container word would be more appropriate, such as using it for a 'box' instead of 盒子 (hézi). Remember, 笼 specifically refers to baskets or cages.

Write 笼

笼

Practice writing 笼 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar Patterns of 笼

笼 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 12 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 4

Complete the Sentence

“消化不良”是个____统的术语，可以指各种胃部不适。

Indigestion is a catch-all term for any kind of stomach distress.

Example Sentences for 笼 (10)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
“消化不良”是个笼统的术语，可以指各种胃部不适。

“ “ xiāo huà bù” liáng ” shì gè lóng tǒng de， shù yǔ ， kě yǐ zhǐ gè zhǒng wèi。

Indigestion is a catch-all term for any kind of stomach distress.
2
他又是握手，又是拍背，像个政客一样把一屋子的人都笼络了一番。

tā yòu shì wò shǒu， ， yòu shì pāi， bèi ， xiàng gè zhèng kè yī yàng bǎ yī wū zǐ de rén dū lóng luò le。

He worked the room like a politician, gripping hands, and slapping backs.
3
强烈的敌对和紧张气氛依然笼罩着这座城市。

qiáng liè de dí duì hé jǐn zhāng qì fēn yī rán lóng zhào zháo zhè zuò chéng shì。

There's still an atmosphere of great hostility and tension in the city.
4
他认为把云雀关在笼子里太残忍了.

tā rèn wéi bǎ yún què guān zài lóng zǐ lǐ tài cán rěn le.

He thinks it cruel to confine a lark in a cage.
5
关在笼里的夜莺唱不出歌来.

guān zài lóng lǐ de yè yīng chàng bù chū gē lái.

Nightingales will not sing in a cage.
6
晚上点亮的灯笼在黑暗中发出柔和的光。

wǎn shàng diǎn liàng de dēng lóng zài hēi àn zhōng fā chū róu hé de guāng。

The night lantern glowed softly in the darkness.
7
他站在那儿，一柱金光笼罩着他。

tā zhàn zài nà ér， ， yī zhù jīn guāng lóng zhào zháo。

He stood there in a cocoon of golden light.
8
在一层烟尘的笼罩之下，公园和广场显得阴沉沉的。

zài yī céng yān chén de lóng zhào zhī xià， ， gōng yuán hé guǎng cháng xiǎn dé yīn chén chén。

The parks and squares looked grim under a mantle of soot and ash.
9
背心上的方格子不过是笼子上的铜丝而已.

bèi xīn shàng de fāng gé zǐ bù guò shì lóng zǐ shàng de tóng sī ér yǐ.

The checks in the waistcoat are but the wires of the cage.
10
笼统地说，你住得离某学校越近，你的孩子就越有可能进入该校上学。

lóng tǒng dì shuō， ， nǐ zhù dé lí mǒu xué xiào yuè， jìn ， nǐ de hái zǐ jiù yuè yǒu kě néng jìn rù gāi xiào。

In broad terms, this means that the closer you live to a school, the more likely it is that your child will get a place there.

Word Family of 笼

Words Containing This Character20
笼子lóngzicage籠子
笼罩lǒngzhàoto envelop籠罩
笼lóngcage籠
灯笼dēnglonglantern燈籠
回笼to steam again回籠
鸟笼birdcage鳥籠
牢笼cage牢籠
笼统lǒngtǒnggeneral籠統
出笼just out of the steamer basket 蒸籠|蒸笼出籠
灯笼裤bloomers燈籠褲
蒸笼steamer basket (e.g. for dimsum)蒸籠
笼络to coax籠絡
囚笼cage used to hold or transport prisoners囚籠
笼头headstall籠頭
樊笼bird cage樊籠
笼屉bamboo steamer (for buns or dimsum)籠屜
猪笼草tropical pitcher plant (i.e. genus Nepenthes)豬籠草
罐笼elevator cage (in mine)罐籠
笼鸟a caged bird籠鳥
烘笼bamboo drying frame烘籠
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 笼子 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 笼

Common dishes include various dumplings, buns, and other small portions of food, highlighting the social aspect of sharing meals.

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