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笼子 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
笼子lóngzicageHSK 7, unknown, 14 strokes, rank #5260, Very Hard
笼子lóngzicoopHSK 7, unknown, 14 strokes, rank #5260, Very Hard
笼子lóngzibasketHSK 7, unknown, 14 strokes, rank #5260, Very Hard
笼子lóngzicontainerHSK 7, unknown, 14 strokes, rank #5260, Very Hard
lóngzi(long2zi5)long zi T2
  1. 1cage
  2. 2coop
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March 24, 2026

笼子(籠子)lóngzi(long2zi5)

The word 笼子 (lóngzi) refers to a cage or container used to confine animals or objects. It can also imply any kind of enclosure, such as a coop for birds or a basket for carrying items. This term is often used in contexts related to pet ownership, farming, or storage.

Strokes14Frequency#5260DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, keeping birds in cages (笼子) is a popular hobby, reflecting a tradition of appreciating nature and beauty. Birdcages can be elaborate and are often seen in public parks where people enjoy listening to the songs of their caged pets.

Memory tip

Imagine a long, rectangular cage (笼) that holds a bunch of lively, chirping birds (子) inside. This visual of the birds in their long cage helps you remember both the form of the character and its meaning.

Meanings of 笼子

lóngzi(long2zi5)
1cage
2coop
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About 笼子

笼子Simplified
籠子Traditional
14Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

Podcast: 笼子

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Podcast: 笼子

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AI study notes for 笼子

Quick Contrast

笼子 (cage) vs 箱子 (box) — use 笼子 when referring specifically to an enclosure for animals, while 箱子 is for general storage.

Usage Notes

Be mindful of the context when using 笼子, as it can imply confinement, which might carry negative connotations. Common collocations include 笼子里 (inside the cage) and 笼子外 (outside the cage). Ensure you use the correct tone: the second tone for 笼 and the fifth tone for 子.

HSK Study Tips

As a word not typically found in early HSK levels, 笼子 may appear in HSK 4 or 5 contexts, especially in discussions about animals or storage. Focus on recognizing it within sentences and practicing its pronunciation to avoid tone errors.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 笼子 with similar terms like 笼 or 笼子 with 容器. For example, saying '我把猫放在容器里' (I put the cat in a container) instead of '我把猫放在笼子里' (I put the cat in a cage) can change the meaning significantly.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 笼子

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Component characters

笼lóngbasket
11 strokes⺮
View full entry
子zison
HSK 33 strokes子
View full entry

How to say cage in Chinese

“cage” in Chinese is笼子lóngzi

The word 笼子 (lóngzi) refers to a cage or container used to confine animals or objects. It can also imply any kind of enclosure, such as a coop for birds or a basket for carrying items. This term is often used in contexts related to pet ownership, farming, or storage.

When to use 笼子

Be mindful of the context when using 笼子, as it can imply confinement, which might carry negative connotations. Common collocations include 笼子里 (inside the cage) and 笼子外 (outside the cage). Ensure you use the correct tone: the second tone for 笼 and the fifth tone for 子.

笼子 or something close to it

笼子 (cage) vs 箱子 (box) — use 笼子 when referring specifically to an enclosure for animals, while 箱子 is for general storage.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 笼子 with similar terms like 笼 or 笼子 with 容器. For example, saying '我把猫放在容器里' (I put the cat in a container) instead of '我把猫放在笼子里' (I put the cat in a cage) can change the meaning significantly.

Write 笼子

笼
子

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

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Frequently asked questions about 笼子

笼子 is the more general term for 'cage' or 'container,' while 笼 specifically refers to the cage structure itself.

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