Show pageOld revisionsBacklinksBack to top This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong. ====== jízhuāngxiāng: 集装箱 - Shipping Container, Container ====== ===== Quick Summary ===== * **Keywords:** 集装箱, jizhuangxiang, shipping container in Chinese, container, cargo container, intermodal container, containerization, China global trade, logistics in Chinese, freight, 货柜, huogui * **Summary:** Discover the meaning of **集装箱 (jízhuāngxiāng)**, the Chinese word for a shipping container. This guide breaks down the characters 集 (to gather), 装 (to pack), and 箱 (box) to reveal the word's logical structure. Learn about the immense cultural and economic significance of the **集装箱** as a symbol of China's role as the "world's factory." This entry provides practical example sentences for business and logistics, clarifies the difference between **集装箱** and its synonym **货柜 (huòguì)**, and explores related vocabulary for international trade. ===== Core Meaning ===== * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** jí zhuāng xiāng * **Part of Speech:** Noun * **HSK Level:** HSK 6 * **Concise Definition:** A large, standardized, reusable steel box used for the intermodal transport of goods; a shipping container. * **In a Nutshell:** **集装箱 (jízhuāngxiāng)** is the standard Mandarin Chinese term for the large metal boxes you see on ships, trains, and trucks. It's a very literal and descriptive word that is essential for any conversation about logistics, manufacturing, or international trade. While it's a technical term, its presence is a powerful and visible symbol of modern global commerce. ===== Character Breakdown ===== * **集 (jí):** This character means "to gather," "to collect," or "to assemble." Its traditional form (集) depicts a bird (隹) on a tree (木), evoking an image of birds gathering together. * **装 (zhuāng):** This character means "to load," "to pack," or "to install." It's composed of parts that suggest putting things into a container or putting on clothes (the 衣 radical means clothing). * **箱 (xiāng):** This character means "box," "case," or "chest." The bamboo radical (竹) on top hints at the materials used for early boxes. When combined, the meaning is perfectly logical: **集 (gather) + 装 (pack) + 箱 (box)** = A box that you gather goods and pack them into. ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== The term **集装箱** itself is a modern, technical word, but its cultural significance in contemporary China is profound. It's a tangible symbol of China's economic miracle and its transformation into the "world's factory" (世界工厂, shìjiè gōngchǎng). In the West, a "shipping container" is primarily a logistical tool, an object of commerce. In China, while it serves the same function, the image of a port stacked high with colorful **集装箱** carries a heavier weight. It represents the export-driven economic policies that have lifted hundreds of millions out of poverty, the country's integration into the global economy, and its manufacturing prowess. For many, it's a visual shorthand for national development, hard work, and global reach. You cannot discuss China's modern history without acknowledging the role of the humble **集装箱**. This contrasts with the Western view, where the container is more of a background element of consumerism. In China, it's often a foreground symbol of production and national economic strength. ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== **集装箱** is used in any context related to shipping, freight, and logistics. It is a neutral, standard term appropriate for both formal business documents and casual conversations. * **Logistics and Trade:** This is its primary use. You will hear it constantly when discussing booking shipments, port operations, customs clearance, and freight costs. * **Architecture and Design:** In recent years, "container architecture" (集装箱建筑, jízhuāngxiāng jiànzhù) has become a trendy, modern style. People use repurposed containers to build creative cafes, offices, and even homes (集装箱房屋, jízhuāngxiāng fángwū). The term is almost always used literally and has a neutral connotation. ===== Example Sentences ===== * **Example 1:** * 那个港口堆满了五颜六色的**集装箱**。 * Pinyin: Nàge gǎngkǒu duīmǎnle wǔyánliùsè de **jízhuāngxiāng**. * English: That port is piled high with colorful shipping containers. * Analysis: A simple descriptive sentence. 堆满 (duīmǎn) means "piled full," a common verb used with containers in a port. * **Example 2:** * 我们需要为这批货物预订一个四十英尺的**集装箱**。 * Pinyin: Wǒmen xūyào wèi zhè pī huòwù yùdìng yīgè sìshí yīngchǐ de **jízhuāngxiāng**. * English: We need to book a 40-foot container for this shipment of goods. * Analysis: This is a typical business sentence. It shows how to specify the size of a container, using 英尺 (yīngchǐ) for "feet." * **Example 3:** * 工人们正在把货物装进**集装箱**。 * Pinyin: Gōngrénmen zhèngzài bǎ huòwù zhuāng jìn **jízhuāngxiāng**. * English: The workers are loading the goods into the container. * Analysis: This sentence uses the 把 (bǎ) construction to show the action of "loading" (装) being performed on the goods (货物). * **Example 4:** * 这艘货船可以装载超过一万个**集装箱**。 * Pinyin: Zhè sōu huòchuán kěyǐ zhuāngzài chāoguò yī wàn ge **jízhuāngxiāng**. * English: This cargo ship can carry over ten thousand containers. * Analysis: 装载 (zhuāngzài) means "to load/carry capacity." The measure word for 集装箱 is typically the general-purpose 个 (ge). * **Example 5:** * 由于海关检查，我们的**集装箱**被扣留了。 * Pinyin: Yóuyú hǎiguān jiǎnchá, wǒmen de **jízhuāngxiāng** bèi kòuliú le. * English: Our container was detained due to a customs inspection. * Analysis: A common problem in international shipping. This sentence uses the passive voice with 被 (bèi) to show something happened to the container. * **Example 6:** * 他用旧的**集装箱**改造了一个很酷的咖啡馆。 * Pinyin: Tā yòng jiù de **jízhuāngxiāng** gǎizào le yīgè hěn kù de kāfēiguǎn. * English: He used an old shipping container to convert into a very cool cafe. * Analysis: This demonstrates the modern architectural use of the term. 改造 (gǎizào) means "to transform" or "to remodel." * **Example 7:** * **集装箱**运输大大降低了全球贸易的成本。 * Pinyin: **Jízhuāngxiāng** yùnshū dàdà jiàngdī le quánqiú màoyì de chéngběn. * English: Container transport has greatly reduced the cost of global trade. * Analysis: Here, 集装箱 is used as part of a compound noun, 集装箱运输 (container transport), to describe the entire system. * **Example 8:** * 卡车司机正在把**集装箱**从港口运到仓库。 * Pinyin: Kǎchē sījī zhèngzài bǎ **jízhuāngxiāng** cóng gǎngkǒu yùn dào cāngkù. * English: The truck driver is transporting the container from the port to the warehouse. * Analysis: A good example showing the "intermodal" nature of containers, moving from port to truck to warehouse. * **Example 9:** * 你可以通过这个号码追踪你的**集装箱**的位置。 * Pinyin: Nǐ kěyǐ tōngguò zhège hàomǎ zhuīzōng nǐ de **jízhuāngxiāng** de wèizhì. * English: You can track the location of your container via this number. * Analysis: 追踪 (zhuīzōng) means "to track," a key verb in modern logistics. * **Example 10:** * 一个空的**集装箱**有多重？ * Pinyin: Yīgè kōng de **jízhuāngxiāng** yǒu duō zhòng? * English: How much does an empty container weigh? * Analysis: A practical question. 空的 (kōng de) means "empty." ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== * **集装箱 (jízhuāngxiāng) vs. 货柜 (huòguì):** This is the most important distinction. **货柜 (huòguì)**, literally "goods container," is a direct synonym. In Mainland China, **集装箱** is the more formal and standard term, used in official documents and news reports. **货柜** is more colloquial and is the preferred term in Taiwan and Hong Kong. If you're doing business in Mainland China, use **集装箱**, but you will be understood if you use **货柜**. * **集装箱 (jízhuāngxiāng) vs. 箱子 (xiāngzi):** A common beginner mistake is to confuse **集装箱** with the general word for "box," **箱子 (xiāngzi)**. A **箱子** can be a cardboard box, a suitcase, or a wooden chest. A **集装箱** is ONLY the large, metal shipping container used for freight. You cannot use them interchangeably. * **Incorrect:** 我把书放在一个**集装箱**里。(Wǒ bǎ shū fàng zài yīgè jízhuāngxiāng lǐ.) - //I put the books in a shipping container.// (This is grammatically correct but logically absurd unless you are shipping thousands of books). * **Correct:** 我把书放在一个**箱子**里。(Wǒ bǎ shū fàng zài yīgè xiāngzi lǐ.) - //I put the books in a box.// ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== * [[货柜]] (huòguì) - A direct synonym for **集装箱**, more common in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Southern China. * [[港口]] (gǎngkǒu) - Port, harbor. The place where containers are transferred between ships and land. * [[物流]] (wùliú) - Logistics. The entire industry and process of managing the flow of goods, in which containers are a key component. * [[海运]] (hǎiyùn) - Sea transport, ocean freight. The primary method for moving containers internationally. * [[货船]] (huòchuán) - Cargo ship, freighter. The vessels that carry thousands of containers. * [[报关]] (bàoguān) - To declare goods at customs. A critical step for any international container shipment. * [[运费]] (yùnfèi) - Shipping fee, freight cost. The price paid to transport a container. * [[仓库]] (cāngkù) - Warehouse. A place where goods are stored before being loaded into or after being unloaded from a container. * [[码头]] (mǎtóu) - Dock, pier, wharf. The specific structure within a port where ships moor to load and unload containers. * [[供应链]] (gōngyìngliàn) - Supply chain. The broader network of organizations, people, and activities involved in moving a product from supplier to customer.