bīngxiāng: 冰箱 - Refrigerator, Fridge

• Keywords: bīngxiāng, bingxiang, 冰箱, refrigerator in Chinese, fridge in Chinese, Chinese word for fridge, ice box, kitchen appliances in Chinese, HSK 2 vocabulary, measure word for refrigerator
• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese word for refrigerator, 冰箱 (bīngxiāng). This guide breaks down the characters 冰 (ice) and 箱 (box), explaining its logical origin. Discover its cultural significance as a symbol of modern Chinese life, see 10 practical example sentences, and learn common mistakes to avoid, such as using the correct measure word. This is your complete resource for understanding and using “冰箱” in conversation.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): bīngxiāng
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 2
• Concise Definition: An electrical appliance used to keep food and drinks cold; a refrigerator or fridge.
• In a Nutshell: 冰箱 (bīngxiāng) is the standard, everyday word for a refrigerator in Mandarin Chinese. Its meaning is direct and literal, combining the characters for “ice” and “box.” Just as you'd say “fridge” in English, you'll use 冰箱 in all contexts, from casual chats about leftovers to shopping for new kitchen appliances.

• 冰 (bīng): This character means “ice.” Its radical “冫” is known as the “ice radical” and is present in many characters related to coldness or freezing, like 冷 (lěng - cold).
• 箱 (xiāng): This character means “box,” “chest,” or “case.” The “竹” (zhú - bamboo) radical at the top hints at early boxes being made from bamboo. You'll see it in other words like 行李箱 (xínglǐxiāng - suitcase).

Putting them together, 冰箱 (bīngxiāng) literally translates to “ice box.” This is a perfect description of early refrigeration methods and makes the modern word for “refrigerator” incredibly logical and easy to remember.

While a refrigerator is a common appliance worldwide, its rapid adoption in China carries a unique cultural weight. For many families, purchasing their first 冰箱 in the 1980s or 1990s was a major milestone. It represented a significant step into modernity and a tangible sign of rising living standards and participation in the global consumer economy. Unlike in the West where the refrigerator has been a household staple for many generations, in China it is a symbol of the country's swift and recent economic transformation. It changed a millenniums-old way of life that depended on daily trips to the market for fresh ingredients. The 冰箱 enabled families to store food for longer, save leftovers (剩菜 - shèngcài), and enjoy a wider variety of foods, including cold drinks and ice cream, which were once considered luxuries. Today, a large, modern 冰箱 is a point of pride in a Chinese kitchen, reflecting the family's prosperity and well-being.

冰箱 (bīngxiāng) is a high-frequency, neutral term used in all manner of daily situations.

• In Conversation: You'll hear it constantly when discussing food, cooking, and household chores. “Put the milk in the fridge,” “Is there any beer in the fridge?” and “My fridge is broken” are all common uses.
• Shopping: When buying appliances, you'll discuss different types, such as a 双开门冰箱 (shuāng kāimén bīngxiāng - double-door refrigerator). You might discuss famous Chinese brands like Haier (海尔 - Hǎi'ěr) or Midea (美的 - Měidì).
• Formality: The term is neutral and appropriate for both formal and informal settings. There is no other common word for “refrigerator.”

• Example 1:
  • 请把牛奶放进冰箱里。
  • Pinyin: Qǐng bǎ niúnǎi fàngjìn bīngxiāng lǐ.
  • English: Please put the milk in the refrigerator.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses the common 把 (bǎ) structure to talk about doing something to an object. “放进 (fàngjìn)” means “to put into.”
• Example 2:
  • 我家的冰箱坏了，得找人来修。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ jiā de bīngxiāng huài le, děi zhǎo rén lái xiū.
  • English: My family's refrigerator is broken, I need to find someone to come and fix it.
  • Analysis: A very practical sentence. “坏了 (huài le)” means “is broken,” and “修 (xiū)” means “to repair.”
• Example 3:
  • 冰箱里还有昨天的剩菜吗？
  • Pinyin: Bīngxiāng lǐ hái yǒu zuótiān de shèngcài ma?
  • English: Are there still leftovers from yesterday in the fridge?
  • Analysis: “剩菜 (shèngcài)” is a crucial word for leftovers, which are almost always stored in the 冰箱.
• Example 4:
  • 夏天的时候，我喜欢从冰箱里拿一瓶冰水。
  • Pinyin: Xiàtiān de shíhou, wǒ xǐhuān cóng bīngxiāng lǐ ná yī píng bīngshuǐ.
  • English: In the summer, I like to get a bottle of ice water from the fridge.
  • Analysis: “从…里 (cóng…lǐ)” means “from inside…” and is used here to show taking something out of the refrigerator.
• Example 5:
  • 这个冰箱太小了，我们应该买个大一点儿的。
  • Pinyin: Zhège bīngxiāng tài xiǎo le, wǒmen yīnggāi mǎi ge dà yīdiǎnr de.
  • English: This fridge is too small, we should buy a bigger one.
  • Analysis: A great example of how to describe an object and express an opinion or suggestion using “太…了 (tài…le)” and “应该 (yīnggāi)”.
• Example 6:
  • 你看，这台双开门冰箱怎么样？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ kàn, zhè tái shuāng kāimén bīngxiāng zěnmeyàng?
  • English: Look, what do you think of this double-door refrigerator?
  • Analysis: This sentence uses the correct measure word for appliances, “台 (tái)”. “双开门 (shuāng kāimén)” literally means “double-open-door.”
• Example 7:
  • 这种药需要放在冰箱里冷藏。
  • Pinyin: Zhè zhǒng yào xūyào fàng zài bīngxiāng lǐ lěngcáng.
  • English: This type of medicine needs to be refrigerated (stored cold in the fridge).
  • Analysis: This shows a more formal or instructional use. “冷藏 (lěngcáng)” is the verb “to refrigerate.”
• Example 8:
  • 打开冰箱看看有什么吃的。
  • Pinyin: Dǎkāi bīngxiāng kànkan yǒu shénme chī de.
  • English: Open the fridge and see what there is to eat.
  • Analysis: A very common and casual phrase. “看看 (kànkan)” is a colloquial way of saying “to have a look.”
• Example 9:
  • 别忘了清理冰箱，里面有点儿味道了。
  • Pinyin: Bié wàngle qīnglǐ bīngxiāng, lǐmiàn yǒudiǎnr wèidào le.
  • English: Don't forget to clean the fridge, it's starting to smell a little inside.
  • Analysis: “清理 (qīnglǐ)” means “to clean up” or “to tidy.” “有味道了 (yǒu wèidào le)” is a polite way to say something has developed a smell.
• Example 10:
  • 我们新买的冰箱是海尔牌的。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen xīn mǎi de bīngxiāng shì Hǎi'ěr pái de.
  • English: The new refrigerator we bought is the Haier brand.
  • Analysis: Shows how to talk about brands. “牌 (pái)” means “brand.” Haier (海尔) is one of China's most famous appliance manufacturers.

• Measure Word: The most common mistake for learners is using the wrong measure word. While `个 (gè)` is a general-purpose measure word, the more correct and standard measure word for machines and appliances, including refrigerators, is `台 (tái)`.
  • Correct: 我想买一台新冰箱。(Wǒ xiǎng mǎi yī tái xīn bīngxiāng.) - I want to buy a new refrigerator.
  • Common Error: 我想买一个新冰箱。(Wǒ xiǎng mǎi yī ge xīn bīngxiāng.) - While understood, this sounds less native.
• 冰箱 (bīngxiāng) vs. 冰柜 (bīngguì): These two are easily confused.
  • 冰箱 (bīngxiāng) is a standard refrigerator, which usually has both a refrigeration compartment (冷藏室 - lěngcáng shì) and a smaller freezer compartment (冷冻室 - lěngdòng shì).
  • 冰柜 (bīngguì) specifically means a “freezer” or “chest freezer”—an appliance used only for freezing things solid.

• 冰柜 (bīngguì) - A freezer or chest freezer, used for deep-freezing food.
• 冷藏 (lěngcáng) - (Verb) To refrigerate; to keep something cold but not frozen.
• 冷冻 (lěngdòng) - (Verb) To freeze; to store something at a sub-zero temperature.
• 电器 (diànqì) - Electrical appliance(s); the general category that a 冰箱 belongs to.
• 厨房 (chúfáng) - Kitchen; the room where the 冰箱 is usually located.
• 剩菜 (shèngcài) - Leftovers; food that is often stored in the 冰箱.
• 食物 (shíwù) - Food; the primary thing you keep in a 冰箱.
• 海尔 (Hǎi'ěr) - Haier, a world-famous Chinese brand that is a leading manufacturer of refrigerators and other home appliances.
• 台 (tái) - The correct measure word for refrigerators, computers, TVs, and other similar machines.