箱 means “box”

はこ · hako

Also: chest, case, bin

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

はこ

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

ソウ

Taught in grade 3 · 15 strokes

The story

Bamboo (⺮) shaped into a container with eyes (目) and legs (木): 箱 holds treasures within. Japanese gift culture wraps even simple items beautifully. Hakone's famous puzzle boxes (秘密箱) require dozens of precise moves to open.

Used in 弁当箱 (bentobako, bento box) and 箱根 (Hakone, famous hot spring town)

More from Tools & Objects

• 車 car
• 船 ship
• 本 book
• 糸 thread
• 布 cloth
• 針 needle
• 傘 umbrella
• 袋 bag
• 机 desk
• 鐘 bell
• 刃 blade
• 札 tag

Learn 箱 and more kanji free on Fuji Learning · All kanji

Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.