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袋 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
袋
dài
a pouch
HSK 4, q, 11 strokes, radical 衣, rank #2234, Medium
袋
dài
bag
HSK 4, q, 11 strokes, radical 衣, rank #2234, Medium
袋
dài
sack
HSK 4, q, 11 strokes, radical 衣, rank #2234, Medium
袋
dài
pocket
HSK 4, q, 11 strokes, radical 衣, rank #2234, Medium
袋
dài
bag, sack; pocket, pouch
HSK 4, q, 11 strokes, radical 衣, rank #2234, Medium
dài(dai4)dai T4
1a pouch
2bag
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March 24, 2026
袋dài(dai4)
The character 袋 (dài) refers to a bag, pouch, or sack used for carrying items. It can denote various types of containers, such as shopping bags or pockets in clothing. This term is commonly used in both everyday conversation and more formal contexts when discussing items meant for storage or transport.
Strokes11Radical衣Frequency#2234DifficultyMedium
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, the use of reusable shopping bags has become increasingly popular due to environmental awareness. Many cities have implemented bans on plastic bags, making the concept of a 袋 even more significant in daily life.
Memory tip
Imagine a large bag (袋) filled with delightful treats. The character looks like a bag slung over a shoulder, ready to carry goodies. The 'd' in 'dài' can remind you of 'drape' as if the bag drapes over your arm.
Meanings of 袋
dài(dai4)
1a pouch
2bag
Exercise 1 of 3
By ear
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About 袋
袋Simplified
11Strokes
衣Radical
量词liàngcímeasure word (mw.)Part of Speech
#2234Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L4IntermediateTOCFLL4HSKKL2CEFRB1
Podcast: 袋
Podcast: 袋
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AI study notes for 袋
Quick Contrast
袋 (dài) vs 包 (bāo) — use 袋 when referring specifically to a bag or pouch, while 包 is more general and can imply wrapping or packaging.
Usage Notes
Be cautious not to confuse 袋 (dài) with other similar-sounding words. It is typically used in both informal and formal settings but is more common in everyday language. Common collocations include 购物袋 (gòuwùdài - shopping bag) and 垃圾袋 (lājīdài - garbage bag).
HSK Study Tips
While 袋 is not on the official HSK lists, it is relevant for HSK 2 and above due to its practical usage in daily life. Students should focus on recognizing common phrases that include 袋, especially those related to shopping.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 袋 (dài) with 包 (bāo), which also means 'bag' but has different nuances. For example, say '购物袋' (gòuwùdài) for 'shopping bag' rather than incorrectly using 包.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 袋
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Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 袋 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
袋 = 衣 + 代. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 袋
IDS Structure⿱代衣
袋Full character
=
代dai4
top
衣yi1
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 袋?
How to say a pouch in Chinese
“a pouch” in Chinese is袋dài
The character 袋 (dài) refers to a bag, pouch, or sack used for carrying items. It can denote various types of containers, such as shopping bags or pockets in clothing. This term is commonly used in both everyday conversation and more formal contexts when discussing items meant for storage or transport.
When to use 袋
Be cautious not to confuse 袋 (dài) with other similar-sounding words. It is typically used in both informal and formal settings but is more common in everyday language. Common collocations include 购物袋 (gòuwùdài - shopping bag) and 垃圾袋 (lājīdài - garbage bag).
袋 or something close to it
袋 (dài) vs 包 (bāo) — use 袋 when referring specifically to a bag or pouch, while 包 is more general and can imply wrapping or packaging.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 袋 (dài) with 包 (bāo), which also means 'bag' but has different nuances. For example, say '购物袋' (gòuwùdài) for 'shopping bag' rather than incorrectly using 包.
Write 袋
袋
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Practice writing 袋 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 袋
袋 functions as a measure word. Place it between a number/demonstrative and the noun it counts (一本书, 这个人). Different categories of nouns require different measure words. It carries 5 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.
tā yònglì bǎ yān huī gāng cóng fángjiān nà tóu rēng guòlái， chà diǎn zá dào wǒ de nǎodai。
She hurled the ashtray across the room, narrowly missing my head.
8
我把手伸进口袋，掏出了那封信。
wǒ bǎshou shēn jìnkǒu dài， tāo chū le nà fēng xìn。
I put my hand into my pocket and pulled out the letter.
9
“谢了，朋友，”他说着就把钱划拉进了口袋。
“ xiè le， péngyou，” tā shuō zhe jiù bǎ qián huá lā jìn le kǒudai。
"Thanks friend," he said, while sweeping the money into his pocket.
10
我慢慢地把那些沉重的黑色尼龙袋的拉链拉上并锁好。
wǒ mànmàn dì bǎ nàxiē chénzhòng de hēisè nílóng dài de lāliàn lā shàng bìng suǒ hǎo。
I slowly zipped and locked the heavy black nylon bags.
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Cultural Notes for 袋
💡Did you know?
In Chinese culture, bags are often associated with the concept of carrying one's fortune. It is common to give red bags (红包) during festivals, symbolizing good luck and prosperity.
Word Family of 袋
Words containing this character18
脑袋nǎodaihead腦袋
袋dàipouch
口袋kǒudaipocket
袋子dàizibag
塑料袋sùliàodàiplastic bag
眼袋yǎndàibags under the eyes
麻袋mádàisack
袋鼠dàishǔkangaroo
睡袋shuìdàisleeping bag
热水袋rèshuǐdàihot water bottle熱水袋
沙袋shādàisandbag
布袋bùdàipouch
钱袋qiándàipurse錢袋
冰袋bīngdàiice bag
旅行袋lǚxíngdàitravel bag
行李袋xínglidàitravel bag
烟袋yāndàitobacco pipe煙袋
衣袋yīdàipocket
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 袋
What does 脑袋 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 袋
Common phrases with 袋 include '购物袋' (gòuwùdài), meaning 'shopping bag,' and '塑料袋' (sùliàodài), meaning 'plastic bag.' These phrases are useful when discussing shopping or transportation of items.
袋 is pronounced as 'dài' in Mandarin Chinese. The tone is a falling tone, so make sure to emphasize the 'dai' with a downward pitch to convey the correct meaning.
袋 (dài) means 'bag' or 'pouch' in Chinese. It can refer to various types of bags, such as a sack or pocket, and is often used in everyday contexts when talking about carrying items.
You can use 袋 (dài) in sentences like '我需要一个袋子来装这些东西' (Wǒ xūyào yīgè dàizi lái zhuāng zhèxiē dōngxī), which means 'I need a bag to carry these things.' It is commonly used in conversations about shopping or packing.
You can say '我需要一个购物袋' (Wǒ xūyào yīgè gòuwùdài) meaning 'I need a shopping bag.'
Related words include 包 (bāo - package) and 口袋 (kǒudài - pocket).
Yes, 袋 can be used in both formal and informal contexts, especially when discussing items like bags and pouches.
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