筲 (shāo) - Shāo — a bamboo basket or pail used & a unit of capacity in ancient China (about

筲Tone 1

shāo ｜ 13 strokes ｜ radical:

上姝

筲 · shāo

Shāo — a bamboo basket or pail used for holding rice or water;

a unit of capacity in ancient China (about 2 liters).

Shāo — a bamboo basket or pail useda unit of capacity in ancient China (about

Usage highlights

Bamboo basketRice basketWater pailCapacity of one shaoBamboo containerWinnowing basket

Synonyms

  • 篮— basket (general term)
  • 箕— winnowing basket

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He carried water with a bamboo pail (筲箕).
  • This ancient measure equals one shao (一筲).
  • The rice basket (饭筲) is made of bamboo.

Collocations

  • Bamboo basket(筲箕)
  • Rice basket(饭筲)
  • Water pail(水筲)
  • Capacity of one shao(一筲之量)
  • Bamboo container(竹筲)
  • Winnowing basket(簸筲)

Idioms

  • A peck and a basket — referring to small capacity(斗筲之器)
  • The measure of a peck and basket — petty-mindedness(斗筲之人)
  • Small capacity and shallow insight(斗筲小器)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Originally referred to bamboo containers for holding rice or water in ancient China.
  • Used as an ancient unit of capacity, approximately equal to 2 liters.
  • In idioms, often paired with 'dou' (peck) to metaphorically describe people of limited capacity or petty-mindedness.

FAQ