kuāng
Basket, hamper, container

1. Character Basics

Radical: 竹 (zhú, bamboo)
Stroke Count: 12
Stroke Order:
⺮ 亠 王 匡 筐

2. Pronunciation

Pinyin: kuāng
Tone: 1st tone (high flat)
Audio: s

3. Meaning

  • Basket, hamper (usually made of bamboo or wicker)
  • Container for holding things
  • Vessel with an open top and a handle

4. Common Words

竹筐 zhú kuāng Bamboo basket
筐子 kuāng zi Basket (colloquial)
土筐 tǔ kuāng Earth basket (used for carrying soil)
背筐 bēi kuāng Back basket (carried on the back)
空筐 kōng kuāng Empty basket
水果筐 shuǐguǒ kuāng Fruit basket

5. Grammar & Usage

The character "筐" is primarily used as a noun referring to a basket or similar container. It is often combined with other characters to specify the type or purpose of the basket.

As a noun:

她提着一个竹筐去买菜。(Tā tí zhe yīgè zhúkuāng qù mǎicài.) - She carried a bamboo basket to buy vegetables.

筐里装满了苹果。(Kuāng li zhuāngmǎn le píngguǒ.) - The basket is full of apples.

In compound words:

我们需要一个大筐来装这些衣服。(Wǒmen xūyào yīgè dà kuāng lái zhuāng zhèxiē yīfu.) - We need a big basket to put these clothes in.

背筐是山区常见的运输工具。(Bēikuāng shì shānqū chángjiàn de yùnshū gōngjù.) - Back baskets are common transport tools in mountainous areas.

6. Cultural Background

The character "筐" consists of "竹" (zhú, bamboo) and "匡" (kuāng, frame). This reflects that traditional baskets in China were often made of bamboo, a material that is abundant, strong, and flexible.

In Chinese agricultural society, baskets have played an important role for thousands of years. They were essential tools for harvesting crops, carrying goods, and storing food. Even today, baskets remain in use in many rural areas of China.

Traditional Chinese basket weaving is a skill that has been passed down through generations. Intricately woven baskets are not only practical but also considered works of folk art, with different regions developing their own unique styles and patterns.

7. Example Sentence

妈妈用竹筐装着新鲜的蔬菜从市场回来。

Māma yòng zhúkuāng zhuāng zhe xīnxiān de shūcài cóng shìchǎng huílái.

Mom came back from the market with fresh vegetables in a bamboo basket.

8. Memory Tips

To remember the character "筐", look at its structure: it has "竹" (zhú, bamboo) on top and "匡" (kuāng, frame) below. You can visualize a basket made of bamboo (竹) with a frame (匡) structure. The pronunciation "kuāng" is similar to the sound of the character itself.

Another helpful association is to think of common items that come in baskets, like fruits or vegetables, and imagine them being carried in a bamboo basket while pronouncing "筐" (kuāng).