箱子
xiāng zi · HSK 4
box
📦 箱 = bamboo + 相 (mutual/look-at); 子 is a noun suffix
箱 originally meant a bamboo storage container — the 竹 radical on top marks it as bamboo-related, with 相 giving the sound. Adding 子 turns it into a standalone noun, the everyday word for box, case, or chest.
箱 — bamboo radical 竹 + 相 (xiāng) phonetic
A semantic-phonetic compound. The bamboo radical 竹 on top signals the original meaning: a box or chest woven from bamboo or made of wood. The component 相 below supplies the sound 'xiāng'. Over time the meaning broadened from bamboo containers to boxes and cases of any material.
子 — pictograph of a baby/child with arms out
子 began as a pictograph of a swaddled infant with a large head and outstretched arms, originally meaning 'baby' or 'child.' From there it broadened to 'son,' 'offspring,' and a respectful suffix for masters like 孔子 (Confucius). It also became one of the twelve earthly branches.