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盖子 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
盖子gàizicoverHSK 7, unknown, 14 strokes, rank #10464, Very Hard
盖子gàizilidHSK 7, unknown, 14 strokes, rank #10464, Very Hard
盖子gàizishellHSK 7, unknown, 14 strokes, rank #10464, Very Hard
gàizi(gai4zi5)gai zi T4
  1. 1cover
  2. 2lid
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March 24, 2026

盖子(蓋子)gàizi(gai4zi5)

盖子 (gai4 zi5) refers to a cover or lid that serves to seal or protect the contents of a container. Commonly used in everyday contexts, it applies to various objects such as jars, bottles, and boxes. The nuance of this word emphasizes not just the act of covering but also the protective and enclosing quality of the lid.

Strokes14Frequency#10464DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, the concept of a lid is often associated with preservation and the idea of keeping things safe, reflecting the traditional value placed on food storage and preservation practices in Chinese households.

Memory tip

Imagine a giant '盖' (gai4) being placed over a '子' (zi5), like a giant lid covering a small child playing in a box. The shape of the character 盖 resembles a roof, which symbolizes protection, while '子' can remind you of something inside that needs to be covered.

Meanings of 盖子

gàizi(gai4zi5)
1cover
2lid
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About 盖子

盖子Simplified
蓋子Traditional
14Strokes
—Radical
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2

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Podcast: 盖子

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AI study notes for 盖子

Quick Contrast

瓶盖 (pínggài) - specifically refers to a bottle cap, whereas 盖子 (gàizi) can refer to lids for various types of containers.

Usage Notes

Be careful to use 盖子 in contexts where a cover is specifically needed; it can be confused with other types of covers or shields. It is generally informal, so it's suitable for everyday conversations rather than formal writing. Common collocations include '锅盖' (guo1 gai4, pot lid) and '瓶盖' (ping2 gai4, bottle cap).

HSK Study Tips

While 盖子 is not on the official HSK list, understanding it can be beneficial for level 3 learners who are expanding their vocabulary related to household items. Students should focus on using it in sentences to describe objects they interact with daily, enhancing their practical language skills.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 盖子 with 盖 (gai4), which means 'to cover' but is a verb rather than a noun. For example, saying '我需要盖' (wǒ xūyào gài) instead of '我需要盖子' (wǒ xūyào gàizi) would be incorrect.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 盖子

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Component characters

盖gàilid
HSK 511 strokes皿
View full entry
子zison
HSK 33 strokes子
View full entry

How to say cover in Chinese

“cover” in Chinese is盖子gàizi

盖子 (gai4 zi5) refers to a cover or lid that serves to seal or protect the contents of a container. Commonly used in everyday contexts, it applies to various objects such as jars, bottles, and boxes. The nuance of this word emphasizes not just the act of covering but also the protective and enclosing quality of the lid.

When to use 盖子

Be careful to use 盖子 in contexts where a cover is specifically needed; it can be confused with other types of covers or shields. It is generally informal, so it's suitable for everyday conversations rather than formal writing. Common collocations include '锅盖' (guo1 gai4, pot lid) and '瓶盖' (ping2 gai4, bottle cap).

盖子 or something close to it

瓶盖 (pínggài) - specifically refers to a bottle cap, whereas 盖子 (gàizi) can refer to lids for various types of containers.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 盖子 with 盖 (gai4), which means 'to cover' but is a verb rather than a noun. For example, saying '我需要盖' (wǒ xūyào gài) instead of '我需要盖子' (wǒ xūyào gàizi) would be incorrect.

Write 盖子

盖
子

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Frequently asked questions about 盖子

The correct pronunciation is 'gai4 zi5', with a falling tone on '盖' and a rising tone on '子'.

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