Chinese word

筒

Pronunciation

Pinyintǒng

Meaning

  • nountube

Example

这个筒可以放笔。zhè ge tǒng ké yǐ fàng bǐ

This tube can hold pens.

Illustration for 筒 (tube)

More examples

他的桌上放着一个笔筒，里面有很多笔。tā de zhuō shàng fàng zhe yí gè bí tǒng lǐ miàn yǒu hěn duō bǐ

A pen holder sits on his desk, with many pens in it.

Core concept

An open-ended, tube-shaped container with a narrow body and an empty center.

Common phrases

  • 笔筒bí tǒng

    pen holder

  • 纸筒zhí tǒng

    paper tube

  • 圆筒yuán tǒng

    cylinder

Similar words

圆筒yuán tǒng: A hollow cylindrical object or container with a circular cross-section.
管guǎn: A slender hollow tube that commonly carries liquids or gases.
瓶píng: A liquid-storage container with a neck and a small opening.

Definition in Chinese

管状的容器，多为中空且呈圆柱形，用于放笔、液体或其他细长物品。guǎn zhuàng de róng qì duō wèi zhōng kōng qiě chéng yuán zhù xíng yòng yú fàng bǐ yè tǐ huò qí tā xì cháng wù pǐn

Word origin

筒 (tǒng, "tube") is formed from 竹 (zhú, "bamboo") + 同 (tóng, "same"), with 竹 indicating bamboo and 同 supplying the sound, reflecting early bamboo tubes.

Usage tips

  • The material or purpose named before it identifies the type of tube, while a number normally requires a suitable classifier.

Related words

  • 笔筒bí tǒngpen holdernoun
  • 圆筒yuán tǒngcylindernoun
  • 筒状tǒng zhuàngcylindricaladjective

Word lists with this word