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March 24, 2026
盒hé(he2)
The character 盒 (hé) refers to a small box or case, often used for storing items. It can be employed in various contexts, such as packaging, storage, or as a container for gifts. The nuance suggests a sense of compactness and utility, commonly found in everyday items like lunch boxes or jewelry cases.
Strokes11Radical皿Frequency#2414DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, beautifully boxed gifts are significant, especially during festivals and special occasions, reflecting the importance of presentation. The concept of 盒 extends to traditional packaging for mooncakes during the Mid-Autumn Festival.
Memory Tip
Imagine a small box (盒) that holds your favorite items. The character resembles a box with a lid, and the pronunciation 'hé' sounds like 'hey,' as if you're calling someone to check out this neat little box!
Meanings of 盒
hé(he2)
1small box
2case
Exercise 1 of 3
Listen & Choose the Meaning
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About 盒
盒Simplified
11Strokes
皿Radical
量词liàngcímeasure word (mw.)Part of Speech
#2414Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L5IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRB2
Podcast: 盒
Podcast: 盒
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AI Study Notes for 盒
Quick Contrast
盒 (hé) vs 箱 (xiāng): 盒 refers to a smaller, often compact box, while 箱 denotes a larger box or trunk.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a small box (盒) that holds your favorite items. The character resembles a box with a lid, and the pronunciation 'hé' sounds like 'hey,' as if you're calling someone to check out this neat little box!
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 盒 (hé) with other similar characters like 箱 (xiāng) which means 'box' but is larger. 盒 is more informal and generally used for smaller containers. Pay attention to tone; the third tone in 'hé' is crucial for correct pronunciation.
HSK Study Tips
Although 盒 is not officially listed in HSK levels, it is useful for learners at HSK 2 and above when discussing common objects. Focus on recognizing its use in phrases like 盒子 (hézi - small box) to enhance vocabulary related to everyday items.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, beautifully boxed gifts are significant, especially during festivals and special occasions, reflecting the importance of presentation. The concept of 盒 extends to traditional packaging for mooncakes during the Mid-Autumn Festival.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes mistakenly use 盒 when referring to larger boxes, which should be 箱. For example, saying '我有一个大盒' (wǒ yǒu yīgè dà hé - I have a big box) is incorrect; it should be '我有一个大箱' (wǒ yǒu yīgè dà xiāng).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 盒
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Grammar Patterns of 盒
盒 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 3 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 5
Complete the Sentence
她塞给我十几____磁带。
She loaded me down with around a dozen cassettes.
Common Confusions with 盒
盒vs合
hé
Similar pronunciation and structure, but different meanings.
A technician loads a video tape into one of the machines.
7
她抱着两个用带有冬青枝叶图案的纸包装的盒子走了出来。
tā bào zháo liǎng gè yòng dài yǒu dōng qīng zhī yè tú àn de zhǐ bāo zhuāng de hé zǐ zǒu le chū lái。
She came out with two packages wrapped in holly-sprigged paper.
8
他厉行节约地把这台机器的各种零件放进仔细标记的盒子里收好。
tā lì háng jié yuē dì bǎ zhè tái jī qì de gè zhǒng líng jiàn fàng jìn zī xì biāo jì de hé zǐ lǐ shōu hǎo。
He frugally saved various bits of the machine in carefully marked boxes.
9
她小心翼翼地把枪擦拭干净，放进枪盒里锁好。
tā xiǎo xīn yì yì dì bǎ qiāng cā shì gān jìng， ， fàng jìn qiāng hé lǐ suǒ。
She meticulously cleaned the gun and locked it away in its case.
10
窗下的几个蓝色塑料盒里装满了唱片。
chuāng xià de jī gè lán sè sù liào hé lǐ zhuāng mǎn le chàng piàn。
Several blue plastic boxes under the window were filled with record albums.
Exercise 1 of 1
Reorder the Sentence
She loaded me down with around a dozen cassettes.
Tap tokens to build the sentence
Cultural Notes for 盒
💡Did you know?
在中国，‘盒’ 不仅指小箱子，还可以用来形容礼物盒、药盒等。这些盒子在日常生活中非常重要。
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, beautifully boxed gifts are significant, especially during festivals and special occasions, reflecting the importance of presentation. The concept of 盒 extends to traditional packaging for mooncakes during the Mid-Autumn Festival.
📜Proverb
‘好事成双’在汉语中也可以用来形容双重的包装，像是礼物盒，象征着祝福和好运。
Word Family of 盒
Words Containing This Character12
盒hécase
盒子hézibox
盒饭héfànmeal in a partitioned box盒飯
机顶盒set-top box機頂盒
饭盒lunchbox飯盒
骨灰盒box for bone ashes
墨盒ink cartridge
盒带cassette tape盒帶
铅笔盒pencil case鉛筆盒
暗盒magazine
八音盒musical box
鼻烟盒snuffbox鼻煙盒
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 盒 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 盒
While 盒 itself is not commonly used in idioms, it can appear in phrases related to packaging or organization. For example, '巧妙的盒子' (qiǎomiào de hézi) means 'a clever box' and can refer to innovative packaging solutions.
盒 can be used in various contexts, such as describing packaging, storage, or even gifts. For instance, '礼物盒' (lǐwù hé) means 'gift box' and is commonly used during holidays or special occasions.
You can use 盒 in a sentence to describe items that are stored in a box. For example, you can say '这个盒子里有很多玩具' (Zhège hézi lǐ yǒu hěn duō wánjù), which means 'There are many toys in this box.'
盒 (hé) means 'box' or 'case' in Chinese. It refers to a small container used to hold various items. In addition to physical boxes, it can also denote caskets or small cases used for storage.
盒子 (hézi) means 'small box' and is a direct noun form derived from 盒.
No, 盒 specifically refers to smaller boxes; for larger containers, use 箱 (xiāng).
Yes, it can be part of expressions related to packaging or storage, like '打包盒' (dǎbāo hé - takeout box).
