橐 (tuó) - A sack, bag, or pouch & a bellows (for blowing air)
橐 · tuó
A sack, bag, or pouch;
a bellows (for blowing air);
in ancient texts, refers to a type of container or bag.
A sack, bag, or poucha bellows (for blowing air)in ancient texts, refers to a type of
Usage highlights
BellowsSack and bagLeather sackBook bagMoney bagCarry a sack
Usage & contexts
Examples
- He carried a large sack (橐) on his back.
- The blacksmith used a bellows (橐籥) to stoke the fire.
- The merchant's goods were stored in leather bags (橐).
- An empty sack cannot stand upright (囊橐空虚).
Collocations
- Bellows(橐籥)
- Sack and bag(囊橐)
- Leather sack(革橐)
- Book bag(书橐)
- Money bag(钱橐)
- Carry a sack(负橐)
Idioms
- The bellows of heaven and earth(天地之橐籥)
- Empty bags cannot stand(囊橐空虚)
- Carrying books in a bag(负书担橐)
Cultural background
FAQ- In Daoist philosophy, '橐籥' (bellows) metaphorically represents the empty yet productive space between heaven and earth, as described in the Dao De Jing.
- Historically used for carrying goods, books, or money, often made of leather or cloth.
- Appears in classical Chinese texts describing travelers, merchants, or scholars carrying their belongings.