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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)long
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

By ear

Play it, then pick what 笼 means.

About 笼

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

Podcast: 笼

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Podcast: 笼

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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
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

笼 = ⺮ + 龙. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 笼

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

Parts

Which of these is part 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

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

“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。

“ xiāohuà bùliáng” shì gè lǒngtǒng de shù yǔ， kěyǐ zhǐ gèzhǒng wèi bù búshì。

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 wòshǒu， yòu shì pāi bēi， xiàng gè zhèng kè yíyàng bǎ yī wūzi de rén dōu lóng lào le yīfān。

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。

qiángliè de dí duì hé jǐnzhāng qìfēn yīrán lǒngzhào zhe zhè zuò chéngshì。

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 rènwéi bǎ yún qiāo guān zài lóngzi lǐ tài cánrěn 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。

wǎnshang diǎn liàng de dēnglong zài hēi’àn zhōng fāchū róuhé 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 nàr， yī zhù jīn guāng lǒngzhào zhe tā。

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 lǒngzhào zhīxià， gōngyuán hé guǎngchǎng xiǎnde yīn chén chén de。

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.

bèixīn shàng de fāng gézi búguò shì lóngzi shàng de tóng sī éryǐ.

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。

lǒngtǒng dì shuō， nǐ zhù de lí mǒu xuéxiào yuè jìn， nǐ de háizi jiù yuè yǒu kěnéng jìnrù gāi jiào shàngxué。

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.

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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huílóngto steam again回籠
鸟笼niǎolóngbirdcage鳥籠
牢笼láolóngcage牢籠
笼统lǒngtǒnggeneral籠統
出笼chūlóngjust out of the steamer basket 蒸籠|蒸笼出籠
灯笼裤dēnglóngkùbloomers燈籠褲
蒸笼zhēnglóngsteamer basket (e.g. for dimsum)蒸籠
笼络lǒngluòto coax籠絡
囚笼qiúlóngcage used to hold or transport prisoners囚籠
笼头lóngtouheadstall籠頭
樊笼fánlóngbird cage樊籠
笼屉lóngtìbamboo steamer (for buns or dimsum)籠屜
猪笼草zhūlóngcǎotropical pitcher plant (i.e. genus Nepenthes)豬籠草
罐笼guànlóngelevator cage (in mine)罐籠
笼鸟lóngniǎoa caged bird籠鳥
烘笼hōnglóngbamboo drying frame烘籠
Exercise 1 of 4

Words with 笼

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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