How to Write 匦 (guǐ) — Meaning “small box; ballot box”

Imagine a ballot box with a slot on top, marked with the number "8" (since the character has 8 strokes). The radical 匚 looks like the box's outer shape, and the inner part 鬼 (though it's actually 轨 without the 车) can be remembered as "ghostly votes" inside. This helps link the shape to its meaning as a ballot box.

Write the outer radical 匚 first: horizontal stroke, then the vertical-hook, and finally the bottom horizontal. The inner component 轨 (simplified here) should be written last, placed neatly in the center. A common mistake is making the inner part too big, so it touches the outer box—leave a small gap on all sides.

匦 (guǐ) means a ballot box or small box, while 匠 (jiàng) means a craftsman or artisan, and 匡 (kuāng) means to correct or a frame. Visually, 匠 has the radical 匚 with 斤 inside, 匡 has 匚 with 王 inside, and 匦 has 匚 with 轨 inside. Pay attention to the inner components to tell them apart.

匦 is most commonly seen in formal or political contexts as part of the word 投票匦 (tóu piào guǐ), meaning "ballot box." It is rarely used alone in daily conversation but appears in news reports about elections or voting. Historically, the character was also used for special imperial collection boxes in ancient China for submitting petitions.

Common words containing 匦 include: 投票匦 (tóu piào guǐ) — ballot box; 票匦 (piào guǐ) — Ballot box; 铁匦 (tiě guǐ) — iron chest / iron box.