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March 24, 2026
厢(廂)xiāng(xiang1)
The character 厢 (xiāng) refers to a side room or a box, particularly in a theater setting. It is commonly used to describe seating areas that are situated to the sides of the main stage, often providing a more exclusive viewing experience. This term can also refer to any side compartment or auxiliary space in various contexts.
Strokes11Radical厂Frequency#9961DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese theater, private boxes (厢) are often reserved for distinguished guests, reflecting the cultural importance placed on status and exclusivity in social settings. Attending a performance from a box adds a layer of prestige to the experience.
Memory Tip
Think of 厢 (xiāng) as a 'box' at the theater where you can sit and enjoy a show. The character has a 'roof' (亠) at the top, indicating a covered space, while the bottom part (匚) resembles a box or container. Picture yourself peeking out from a theater box, enjoying the performance.
Meanings of 厢
xiāng(xiang1)
1box (in theater)
2side room
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 厢
厢Simplified
廂Traditional
11Strokes
厂Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#9961Frequency Rank
Podcast: 厢
Podcast: 厢
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AI Study Notes for 厢
Usage Notes
When using 厢, be mindful of its context to avoid confusion with similar terms like 房 (fáng), which means room more generally. It's more common in formal contexts, such as theater discussions or architectural descriptions. Ensure you pronounce it with the correct tone to convey the intended meaning.
HSK Study Tips
Although 厢 is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, it connects with words related to spaces, such as 房间 (fángjiān, room) and 盒子 (hézi, box). Focus on understanding its use in specific contexts like theater and architecture to enhance your vocabulary related to places.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 厢 with similar characters like 房 (fáng). For example, saying '我去厢' (wǒ qù xiāng) instead of '我去房间' (wǒ qù fángjiān) to mean 'I am going to the room' is incorrect. Ensure to use 厢 in contexts specifically referring to side rooms or boxes.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 厢
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Phonosemantic compound. 厂 represents the meaning and 相 represents the sound. Simplified form of 廂.
1The meaning half厂 carries the sense.
2The sound half相 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawaybuilding
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 厢? 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 厢?
Decomposition of 厢
IDS Structure⿸厂相
厢Full Character
=
厂chang3
enclosing
相Xiang1
inner
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 厢?
How to say box (in theater) in Chinese
“box (in theater)” in Chinese is厢xiāng
The character 厢 (xiāng) refers to a side room or a box, particularly in a theater setting. It is commonly used to describe seating areas that are situated to the sides of the main stage, often providing a more exclusive viewing experience. This term can also refer to any side compartment or auxiliary space in various contexts.
When to use 厢
When using 厢, be mindful of its context to avoid confusion with similar terms like 房 (fáng), which means room more generally. It's more common in formal contexts, such as theater discussions or architectural descriptions. Ensure you pronounce it with the correct tone to convey the intended meaning.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 厢 with similar characters like 房 (fáng). For example, saying '我去厢' (wǒ qù xiāng) instead of '我去房间' (wǒ qù fángjiān) to mean 'I am going to the room' is incorrect. Ensure to use 厢 in contexts specifically referring to side rooms or boxes.
Write 厢
厢
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Practice writing 厢 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 厢
厢 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 4 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
通用柴油动力火车头将车____转轨到了4号月台。
The GM diesel engine shunted the coaches to Platform
