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March 24, 2026
抽屉(抽屜)chōuti(chou1ti5)
抽屉 (chōutì) refers to a drawer, a compartment in a piece of furniture that slides in and out for storage. It is commonly used in the context of desks, cabinets, and dressers, where items are kept out of sight but easily accessible. The term emphasizes the action of pulling out or drawing something, reflecting its practical functionality in daily life.
Frequency#4825DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese homes, drawers are often seen as essential for organizing small items, reflecting the value placed on tidiness and space management. The concept of organization is deeply rooted in traditional Chinese philosophy, emphasizing harmony and balance in one's living environment.
Memory Tip
Imagine a drawer that you '抽' (chōu) or pull out to '提' (tì) lift something. The character 抽 has a hand pulling out, while 屉 resembles a box or compartment. Think of 'chou' as 'chewing' through clutter as you pull out the drawer to find what you need.
Meanings of 抽屉
chōuti(chou1ti5)
1drawer
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About 抽屉
抽屉Simplified
抽屜Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#4825Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2
Podcast: 抽屉
Podcast: 抽屉
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AI Study Notes for 抽屉
Quick Contrast
抽屉 (chōutì) vs 橱柜 (chúguì) — use 抽屉 when referring specifically to a drawer, while 橱柜 refers to a cabinet or cupboard that may contain multiple drawers or shelves.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a drawer that you '抽' (chōu) or pull out to '提' (tì) lift something. The character 抽 has a hand pulling out, while 屉 resembles a box or compartment. Think of 'chou' as 'chewing' through clutter as you pull out the drawer to find what you need.
Usage Notes
Be careful with the pronunciation, as the tones can change meaning in Mandarin. The word is generally used in both formal and informal contexts but is often heard in home and office settings. Common collocations include '书桌抽屉' (desk drawer) and '衣柜抽屉' (wardrobe drawer).
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK 5 word, 抽屉 connects well with other vocabulary related to furniture and home life. Students should focus on using it in sentences that describe where items are stored and practice its pronunciation to avoid tone errors.
Cultural Note
In Chinese homes, drawers are often seen as essential for organizing small items, reflecting the value placed on tidiness and space management. The concept of organization is deeply rooted in traditional Chinese philosophy, emphasizing harmony and balance in one's living environment.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 抽屉 with 盒子 (hézi), which means 'box.' For example, they might say '我有很多盒子在我的桌子上' (I have many boxes on my desk) when they mean '抽屉' and should use '抽屉在我的桌子里' (The drawer is in my desk).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 抽屉
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Grammar Patterns of 抽屉
抽屉 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
用你最喜欢的香味熏香你的____和衣柜。
Scent your drawers and wardrobe with your favourite aromas.
Example Sentences for 抽屉 (10)
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1
用你最喜欢的香味熏香你的抽屉和衣柜。
yòng nǐ zuì xǐ huān de xiāng wèi xūn xiāng nǐ de chōu tì hé yī guì。
Scent your drawers and wardrobe with your favourite aromas.
2
他查看了一下收银机的抽屉，里面有钱。
tā chá kàn le yī xià shōu yín jī de chōu tì， ， lǐ miàn yǒu。
He checked the register. There was money in the till.
3
他把那篇文章顺手丢进了抽屉。
tā bǎ nà piān wén zhāng shùn shǒu diū jìn le chōu tì。
He chucked the paper in a drawer.
4
他将文件叠起来，塞进自己的书桌抽屉里。
tā jiāng wén jiàn dié qǐ lái， ， sāi jìn zì jǐ de shū zhuō chōu tì。
He folded the papers and stuck them in his desk drawer.
5
壁橱最下面的抽屉里还有一条多余的毯子。
bì chú zuì xià miàn de chōu tì lǐ huán yǒu yī tiáo duō yú de tǎn zǐ。
There's an extra blanket in the bottom drawer of the cupboard.
6
他熟练地撬开每一把锁，把每个抽屉里的文件都偷走了。
tā shú liàn dì qiào kāi měi yī bǎ suǒ， ， bǎ měi gè chōu tì lǐ de wén jiàn dū tōu zǒu。
He picked each lock deftly, and rifled the papers within each drawer.
7
可以用锤子把抽屉砸开。
kě yǐ yòng chuí zǐ bǎ chōu tì zá kāi。
You could smash the drawer up with a hammer.
8
那个女孩在关抽屉时夹了手.
nà gè nǚ hái zài guān chōu tì shí jiā le shǒu.
The girl jammed her hand when she closed the drawer.
Please line the drawers with clean paper after you have emptied them.
Cultural Notes for 抽屉
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese homes, drawers are often seen as essential for organizing small items, reflecting the value placed on tidiness and space management. The concept of organization is deeply rooted in traditional Chinese philosophy, emphasizing harmony and balance in one's living environment.
Frequently Asked Questions about 抽屉
You can say '我的抽屉里有很多书' (There are many books in my drawer).
Yes, 抽屉 can be used in both settings, especially when discussing furniture.
抽屉 refers specifically to drawers that pull out, while 箱子 refers to boxes or containers that do not have that functionality.
