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箧 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
箧qiètrunk, chest, box; portfoliozg, 14 strokes, radical ⺮
箧qièsuitcaseunknown, 14 strokes, radical ⺮
qiè(qie4) T4
  1. 1trunk, chest, box; portfolio
  2. 2suitcase
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March 24, 2026

箧(篋)qiè(qie4)

The character 箧 (qiè) refers to a container such as a trunk, chest, or box, often used for storage or travel. It can also imply a portfolio or a case used to hold documents or valuable items. Its usage is common in contexts related to travel or organization of belongings.

Strokes14Radical⺮
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese culture, trunks were often used for storing cherished items, especially during travels or when families moved. This reflects the importance of belongings and the care taken in preserving them.

Memory Tip

Imagine a large, sturdy trunk (the kind you might take on a long journey) that holds your most treasured items. The character 箧 is made up of the radical for 'bamboo' (竹) on the left, suggesting that this trunk is made from bamboo, a traditional material for storage in China, while the right side hints at the concept of a box or container.

Meanings of 箧

qiè(qie4)
1trunk, chest, box; portfolio
2suitcase
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 箧

箧Simplified
篋Traditional
14Strokes
⺮Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 箧

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Podcast: 箧

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AI Study Notes for 箧

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 箧 with similar characters like 箱 (xiāng), which also means box but is more general. This character is more formal, so it's best used in written contexts or formal speech. It's important to use the correct tone, as 'qiè' is pronounced with a falling tone.

HSK Study Tips

Although 箧 is not in any HSK level, it can connect with HSK vocabulary related to travel and storage, such as 行李 (xínglǐ - luggage) and 包 (bāo - bag). Students should focus on the character's components to better understand its meaning and usage.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse the pronunciation of 箧 (qiè) with similar sounding words, leading to miscommunication. For example, mistakenly saying 'xiè' instead of 'qiè' can change the meaning entirely.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 箧

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Etymology of 箧

Formation TypeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Memory Hint

A bamboo ⺮ box 匚; 夹 provides the pronunciation

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

What kind of character is 箧?

Decomposition of 箧

IDS Structure⿱⺮⿷匚夹
箧Full Character
=
⺮zhu2
top
匚fang1
enclosing
夹jia1
inner
Exercise 1 of 3

Parts

Which of these is part of 箧?

How to say trunk, chest, box; portfolio in Chinese

“trunk, chest, box; portfolio” in Chinese is箧qiè

The character 箧 (qiè) refers to a container such as a trunk, chest, or box, often used for storage or travel. It can also imply a portfolio or a case used to hold documents or valuable items. Its usage is common in contexts related to travel or organization of belongings.

When to use 箧

Learners often confuse 箧 with similar characters like 箱 (xiāng), which also means box but is more general. This character is more formal, so it's best used in written contexts or formal speech. It's important to use the correct tone, as 'qiè' is pronounced with a falling tone.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse the pronunciation of 箧 (qiè) with similar sounding words, leading to miscommunication. For example, mistakenly saying 'xiè' instead of 'qiè' can change the meaning entirely.

Write 箧

箧

Practice writing 箧 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Word Family of 箧

Words Containing This Character4
箧qièchest篋
翻箱倒箧to overturn trunks and boxes翻箱倒篋
筐箧中物a commonplace thing筐篋中物
倾箱倒箧to exhaust all one has傾箱倒篋
Exercise 1 of 3

Words with 箧

What does 翻箱倒箧 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 箧

While both refer to containers, 箧 (qiè) typically implies a trunk or chest, often used for storage, whereas 箱 (xiāng) is a more general term for any box.

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