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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
Exercise 1 of 3
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
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.
Memory Mnemonic
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'.
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.
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.
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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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.
Most patients derive enjoyment from leafing through old picture albums.
7
我们的旅游报价和那些度假手册里的价格相去甚远。
wǒ mén de lǚ yóu bào jià hé nà xiē dù jiǎ shǒu cè lǐ de jià gé xiāng qù shèn yuǎn。
Our tour prices bore little resemblance to those in the holiday brochures.
8
劳拉正在分发她从家里相册中挑选出的相片。
láo lā zhèng zài fēn fā tā cóng jiā lǐ xiāng cè zhōng tiāo xuǎn chū de xiāng piàn。
Laura was passing around photographs she'd culled from the albums at home.
9
如果忘记了自己的注册账号就点击此链接。
rú guǒ wàng jì le zì jǐ de zhù cè zhàng hào jiù diǎn jī cǐ liàn jiē。
If you've forgotten your login ID, click this link.
10
他的自传精装本已经卖出了36,000多册。
tā de zì chuán jīng zhuāng běn yǐ jīng mài chū le36,000 36,000 duō。
His autobiography has sold more than 36,000 copies in hardback.
Cultural Notes for 册
🏮Cultural insight
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.
Word Family of 册
Compounds5
删shan1to delete
栅zha4fence, grid, palisade
姗shan1to slander, to ridicule; to go slowly; graceful
笧
銏
Words Containing This Character15
注册zhùcèto register註冊
手册shǒucèmanual手冊
册cèbook冊
相册photo album相冊
小册子booklet小冊子
史册annals史冊
名册register名冊
宣传册flyer宣傳冊
画册huàcèpicture album畫冊
册子a book冊子
册封to dub冊封
注册表Windows registry注冊表
分册fascicule分冊
账册a ledger賬冊
集邮册stamp album集郵冊
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 删 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 册
册 refers to a specific type of bound volume or booklet, while 书 is the general term for 'book'.
Generally, 册 is used for physical books; for digital formats, 电子书 (diànzǐ shū) is more appropriate.
You can say '这本书有三册' (Zhè běn shū yǒu sān cè), meaning 'This book has three volumes.'.
