水桶
shuǐtǒng
In Chinese, the English phrase "bucket" is translated as 水桶 (shuǐtǒng). If unsure, use 水桶. Wiktionary also lists 吊桶 (diàotǒng).
Meaning: container (noun)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 水桶 | shuǐtǒng |
| 吊桶 | diàotǒng |
What does it mean word for word?
The word 水桶 is composed of 水, meaning "water" and 桶, meaning "bucket" or "barrel".
Which one should you use?
水桶 is the general term for a water bucket. In contrast, 吊桶 specifically refers to a bucket designed to be suspended or hung, typically by a handle or a rope.
How does it change in a sentence?
When counting buckets, the most common measure word to use with 水桶 is 个.
How do you pronounce it?
shuǐtǒng
Did you know?
- In Chinese internet slang, 水桶 is used to describe the act of banning a user from posting on a forum or social media platform.
- While 水桶 is the standard term, you might see the single character 桶 used to mean any kind of barrel or bucket in more casual or industrial contexts.
- In some southern Chinese dialects, the way people refer to containers like buckets may differ significantly from the standard Mandarin used in 水桶, potentially causing confusion for travelers.
Examples in context
- 我需要一个盆子I need a bucket.
- 这个水桶是蓝色的。Zhège shuǐtǒng shì lánsè de.This bucket is blue.
- 请给我一个水桶。Qǐng gěi wǒ yīgè shuǐtǒng.Please give me a bucket.
- 水桶里装满了水。Shuǐtǒng lǐ zhuāng mǎn le shuǐ.The bucket is full of water.
Example conversation
志强 is helping 梓涵 clean the garden.
- 志强 Zhiqiang梓涵，你需要水桶吗？Zǐhán, nǐ xūyào shuǐtǒng ma?Zihan, do you need a bucket?
- 梓涵 Zihan是的，请帮我拿一个。Shì de, qǐng bāng wǒ ná yīgè.Yes, please help me get one.
- 志强 Zhiqiang这个水桶可以用吗？Zhège shuǐtǒng kěyǐ yòng ma?Can this bucket be used?
- 梓涵 Zihan可以用，谢谢你，志强。Kěyǐ yòng, xièxiè nǐ, Zhìqiáng.It can be used, thank you, Zhiqiang.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bucket” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 水桶, CC BY-SA 4.0.
