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筒 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
筒
tǒng
tube
HSK 7, q, 12 strokes, radical ⺮, rank #6198, Very Hard
筒
tǒng
cylinder
HSK 7, q, 12 strokes, radical ⺮, rank #6198, Very Hard
筒
tǒng
to encase in sth cylindrical (such as hands in sleeves etc)
HSK 7, q, 12 strokes, radical ⺮, rank #6198, Very Hard
筒
tǒng
tube, pipe, cylinder; a thick piece of bamboo
HSK 7, q, 12 strokes, radical ⺮, rank #6198, Very Hard
tǒng(tong3)tong T3
1tube
2cylinder
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
筒tǒng(tong3)
The character 筒 (tǒng) primarily refers to a tube or cylinder, often used in contexts related to containers or hollow structures. It can also describe the action of encasing something within a cylindrical object, such as hands inside sleeves. This word is commonly used in everyday language when discussing objects that have a tubular shape.
Strokes12Radical⺮Frequency#6198DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In traditional Chinese architecture and crafts, bamboo tubes were often used for various purposes, including water transportation and storage, highlighting the importance of bamboo in Chinese culture. The use of 筒 reflects the practicality and resourcefulness found in daily life in China.
Memory tip
Imagine a tall, cylindrical tube that you might see at a construction site—this tube is called a 筒 (tǒng). The left component, bamboo (竹), suggests that it can be made from natural materials, while the right part hints at its tubular function. Picture rolling a bamboo tube down a hill to remember its meaning!
Meanings of 筒
tǒng(tong3)
1tube
2cylinder
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 筒 means.
About 筒
筒Simplified
12Strokes
⺮Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#6198Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 筒
Podcast: 筒
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AI study notes for 筒
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 筒 (tǒng) with similar-sounding words. It is typically used in both formal and informal contexts but is more common in everyday speech. When combined with other characters, it often refers to specific types of tubes, such as in plumbing or packaging.
HSK Study Tips
Although 筒 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it is beneficial to learn alongside other words related to shapes and containers. Students should focus on the pronunciation and practice using it in context to build familiarity with similar nouns.
Common Mistakes
A common mistake is to confuse 筒 (tǒng) with 桶 (tǒng), which means 'bucket.' For example, saying '我有一个筒' (I have a tube) when you mean 'I have a bucket' can lead to misunderstandings. Always check the context to ensure you use the right term.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 筒
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Drill the tone of 筒, say it back, see your pitch against the model voice, and earn XP towards mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
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How well do you know 筒?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 筒 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.
筒 = ⺮ + 同. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 筒
IDS Structure⿱⺮同
筒Full character
=
⺮zhu2
top
同tong2
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 筒?
How to say tube in Chinese
“tube” in Chinese is筒tǒng
The character 筒 (tǒng) primarily refers to a tube or cylinder, often used in contexts related to containers or hollow structures. It can also describe the action of encasing something within a cylindrical object, such as hands inside sleeves. This word is commonly used in everyday language when discussing objects that have a tubular shape.
When to use 筒
Be careful not to confuse 筒 (tǒng) with similar-sounding words. It is typically used in both formal and informal contexts but is more common in everyday speech. When combined with other characters, it often refers to specific types of tubes, such as in plumbing or packaging.
What learners get wrong
A common mistake is to confuse 筒 (tǒng) with 桶 (tǒng), which means 'bucket.' For example, saying '我有一个筒' (I have a tube) when you mean 'I have a bucket' can lead to misunderstandings. Always check the context to ensure you use the right term.
Write 筒
筒
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Practice writing 筒 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 筒
筒 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.
Exercise 1 of 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
把它扔进邮____，要不然就让你的秘书发份传真。
Pop it in the post, or get your secretary to fax it.
Example sentences for 筒 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
把它扔进邮筒，要不然就让你的秘书发份传真。
bǎ tā rēng jìn yóu tǒng， yàobùrán jiù ràng nǐ de mìshū fā fèn chuánzhēn。
Pop it in the post, or get your secretary to fax it.
