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March 24, 2026
册(冊)cè(ce4)
The character 册 (cè) primarily means 'book' or 'booklet,' and it is often used as a classifier for books. In contexts such as libraries or catalogs, it can denote a volume or a list, highlighting its function in organizing written material.
Strokes5Radical冂Frequency#11152DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the practice of cataloging books and documents has a long history, dating back to ancient dynasties where scholars would compile texts for study and preservation. This underscores the importance of literature in Chinese intellectual tradition.
Memory Tip
Imagine a stack of books (册) where each book is neatly organized on a shelf. The character resembles a cover (丿) with a binding (冊) on the side, reminding you of a booklet or a volume. Visualize picking a book from the stack and flipping through its pages to remember 'cè'.
Meanings of 册
cè(ce4)
1book
2booklet
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By ear
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About 册
册Simplified
冊Traditional
5Strokes
冂Radical
量词liàngcímeasure word (mw.)Part of Speech
#11152Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L5IntermediateTOCFLL5HSKKL3CEFRB2
Podcast: 册
Podcast: 册
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AI Study Notes for 册
Quick Contrast
册 (cè) vs 本 (běn) — choose 册 when referring to a volume or booklet in a formal context, while 本 is more commonly used for counting books in general.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 册 with similar characters like 书 (shū, 'book') or 卷 (juǎn, 'scroll'). While 册 specifically refers to a bound volume, 书 is more general. Use 册 in formal contexts or when discussing bibliographic classifications.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 5 word, 册 connects to other book-related vocabulary like 书 (shū) and 目录 (mùlù, 'catalog'). Focus on its usage in formal writing and discussions about literature or library science, enhancing your vocabulary for academic contexts.
Common Mistakes
A common mistake is using 册 in informal contexts where 书 would be more appropriate, such as saying '我在读一本册' instead of '我在读一本书'. Remember to reserve 册 for more formal or specific contexts.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 册
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How Well Do You Know 册?
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Learning Lab
Knowing 册 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.
The character 册 (cè) primarily means 'book' or 'booklet,' and it is often used as a classifier for books. In contexts such as libraries or catalogs, it can denote a volume or a list, highlighting its function in organizing written material.
When to use 册
Learners often confuse 册 with similar characters like 书 (shū, 'book') or 卷 (juǎn, 'scroll'). While 册 specifically refers to a bound volume, 书 is more general. Use 册 in formal contexts or when discussing bibliographic classifications.
册 or something close to it
册 (cè) vs 本 (běn) — choose 册 when referring to a volume or booklet in a formal context, while 本 is more commonly used for counting books in general.
What learners get wrong
A common mistake is using 册 in informal contexts where 书 would be more appropriate, such as saying '我在读一本册' instead of '我在读一本书'. Remember to reserve 册 for more formal or specific contexts.
Write 册
册
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Practice writing 册 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 册
册 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 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.
