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柙 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
柙xiáa cage or pen for wild animalszg, 9 strokes, radical 木
柙xiácageunknown, 9 strokes, radical 木
柙xiápenunknown, 9 strokes, radical 木
柙xiáscabbardunknown, 9 strokes, radical 木
xiá(xia2)xia T2
  1. 1a cage or pen for wild animals
  2. 2cage
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March 24, 2026

柙xiá(xia2)

The character 柙 (xiá) refers to a cage or pen specifically designed for wild animals, a scabbard for holding a sword, or a similar enclosure. It is often used in contexts related to wildlife or weaponry, emphasizing confinement or protection.

Strokes9Radical木
Cultural note

In ancient China, scabbards were often ornately decorated and symbolized the status of the owner. The concept of wildlife cages also ties into traditional hunting practices and the relationship between humans and nature.

Memory tip

Imagine a wild animal trapped in a wooden cage (the radical 木, meaning 'wood', is part of the character). Visualize the animal's struggles and hear its growls, which sound like 'xiá'. The shape of the character resembles a cage structure, helping you connect the form to its meaning.

Meanings of 柙

xiá(xia2)
1a cage or pen for wild animals
2cage
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 柙

柙Simplified
9Strokes
木Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 柙

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Podcast: 柙

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AI study notes for 柙

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 柙 with other similar-sounding words like '笼' (lóng, meaning 'cage' for domestic animals). It is more formal and might not be commonly used in everyday conversation, so be mindful of its context. Common collocations include '武器柙' (wǔqì xiá, weapon scabbard).

HSK Study Tips

While 柙 is not included in the HSK standard vocabulary, it is beneficial for learners at higher levels to explore more specialized vocabulary related to animals and weaponry. Focus on its components and practice using it in context with related words.

Common Mistakes

Learners might mistakenly use 柙 when referring to cages for pets instead of wild animals. For example, saying '我有一个宠物的柙' (I have a pet cage) should be corrected to '我有一个宠物的笼' (I have a pet cage).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 柙

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Etymology of 柙

Formation typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory hint

wood

Semantic (meaning)木
+
Phonetic (sound)甲
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

柙 = 木 + 甲. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 柙

IDS Structure⿰木甲
柙Full character
=
木Mu4
left
甲jia3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 柙?

How to say a cage or pen for wild animals in Chinese

“a cage or pen for wild animals” in Chinese is柙xiá

The character 柙 (xiá) refers to a cage or pen specifically designed for wild animals, a scabbard for holding a sword, or a similar enclosure. It is often used in contexts related to wildlife or weaponry, emphasizing confinement or protection.

When to use 柙

Learners often confuse 柙 with other similar-sounding words like '笼' (lóng, meaning 'cage' for domestic animals). It is more formal and might not be commonly used in everyday conversation, so be mindful of its context. Common collocations include '武器柙' (wǔqì xiá, weapon scabbard).

What learners get wrong

Learners might mistakenly use 柙 when referring to cages for pets instead of wild animals. For example, saying '我有一个宠物的柙' (I have a pet cage) should be corrected to '我有一个宠物的笼' (I have a pet cage).

Write 柙

柙

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

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Word Family of 柙

Words containing this character1
柙xiácage

Frequently asked questions about 柙

You can use 柙 when talking about wildlife enclosures, scabbards for swords, or metaphorically for any kind of restrictive environment.

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