jiāonáng: 胶囊 - Capsule

• Keywords: jiaonang, 胶囊, capsule in Chinese, Chinese for capsule, Chinese medicine capsule, capsule hotel Chinese, space capsule Chinese, what is jiaonang, HSK 5 vocabulary.
• Summary: Learn the versatile Chinese word 胶囊 (jiāonáng), which means “capsule.” This comprehensive guide explains how this single term is used for everything from medicine and coffee pods to modern “capsule hotels” and futuristic space capsules. Discover its character origins, cultural significance, and practical usage with over ten example sentences designed for beginner and intermediate learners of Mandarin.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): jiāonáng
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: 5
• Concise Definition: A small, sealed container; a capsule.
• In a Nutshell: 胶囊 (jiāonáng) literally translates to “glue sack.” Its most common meaning is the soluble case enclosing a dose of medicine, just like in English. However, its meaning has expanded in modern Chinese to describe any small, self-contained unit. Think of a single-serving coffee pod, a compact room in a “capsule hotel,” or even a time capsule. It's the go-to word for “pod” or “capsule” in almost any context.

• 胶 (jiāo): This character means “glue,” “gum,” or “gelatin.” The left part (月) is a variant of the radical for flesh (肉), and the right part (交) provides the sound. It points to a substance, often derived from animal parts, that is sticky or gelatinous.
• 囊 (náng): This character means “sack,” “pouch,” or “bag.” It's a pictograph of a bag-like container with contents inside.
• The characters combine perfectly to form “gelatin sack,” a literal and accurate description of a medicinal capsule. This clear, physical meaning is the foundation for all its other modern applications.

The term 胶囊 (jiāonáng) bridges tradition and modernity in China. While Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) historically used boiled herbs and powders, it is now common to find these same remedies packaged in convenient 胶囊 form for modern lifestyles. This represents the adaptation of ancient practices to the fast-paced contemporary world. More recently, the rise of the 胶囊旅馆 (jiāonáng lǚguǎn), or “capsule hotel,” has become a major socio-economic indicator in China's megacities. Imported from Japan, this concept has been adapted to provide affordable, temporary housing for young professionals, migrant workers, and budget travelers struggling with sky-high rent.

• Comparison to Western Culture: The “capsule hotel” can be compared to a Western “hostel” or “micro-apartment,” but the term 胶囊 emphasizes a greater degree of compactness and isolation. It's not just a small room; it's a self-contained, futuristic-looking “pod,” highlighting values of efficiency and space-saving in densely populated urban environments. This reflects a practical solution to the challenges of modern urban life in East Asia.

胶囊 (jiāonáng) is a neutral and descriptive term used across various contexts:

• Medicine: This is its most frequent use. You'll hear it at any pharmacy or hospital. It's used to differentiate from 药片 (yàopiàn), or tablets.
• Hospitality: The term 胶囊旅馆 (jiāonáng lǚguǎn) is standard for capsule hotels, a popular budget accommodation choice.
• Consumer Goods: 咖啡胶囊 (kāfēi jiāonáng) are coffee pods for machines like Nespresso or Keurig.
• Technology & Science: 太空胶囊 (tàikōng jiāonáng) means “space capsule,” and 时间胶囊 (shíjiān jiāonáng) means “time capsule.”

• Example 1:
  • 医生说我每天要吃两粒胶囊。
  • Pinyin: Yīshēng shuō wǒ měitiān yào chī liǎng lì jiāonáng.
  • English: The doctor said I need to take two capsules every day.
  • Analysis: A very common real-life sentence. Note the use of the measure word 粒 (lì), which is standard for pills and capsules.
• Example 2:
  • 为了省钱，我第一次住了胶囊旅馆。
  • Pinyin: Wèile shěng qián, wǒ dì yī cì zhùle jiāonáng lǚguǎn.
  • English: To save money, I stayed in a capsule hotel for the first time.
  • Analysis: This sentence demonstrates the common compound noun 胶囊旅馆 (jiāonáng lǚguǎn).
• Example 3:
  • 你能帮我买一盒感冒胶囊吗？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ néng bāng wǒ mǎi yī hé gǎnmào jiāonáng ma?
  • English: Can you help me buy a box of cold capsules?
  • Analysis: Here, 胶囊 is used to specify the type of cold medicine. 盒 (hé) means “box.”
• Example 4:
  • 这台咖啡机只能用特定的咖啡胶囊。
  • Pinyin: Zhè tái kāfēi jī zhǐ néng yòng tèdìng de kāfēi jiāonáng.
  • English: This coffee machine can only use specific coffee capsules.
  • Analysis: Shows the modern usage of 胶囊 for consumer products like coffee pods.
• Example 5:
  • 我们在毕业典礼上埋下了一个时间胶囊。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen zài bìyè diǎnlǐ shàng mái xiàle yīgè shíjiān jiāonáng.
  • English: We buried a time capsule at our graduation ceremony.
  • Analysis: An example of a more abstract, loan-word concept using 胶囊.
• Example 6:
  • 这种维生素胶囊比药片更容易吞咽。
  • Pinyin: Zhè zhǒng wéishēngsù jiāonáng bǐ yàopiàn gèng róngyì tūnyàn.
  • English: This kind of vitamin capsule is easier to swallow than tablets.
  • Analysis: This sentence directly compares 胶囊 (jiāonáng) with 药片 (yàopiàn) (tablet), a key distinction for learners.
• Example 7:
  • 宇航员乘坐返回胶囊安全着陆。
  • Pinyin: Yǔhángyuán chéngzuò fǎnhuí jiāonáng ānquán zhuólù.
  • English: The astronaut landed safely in the return capsule.
  • Analysis: Demonstrates the sci-fi/aerospace usage. 返回 (fǎnhuí) means “return.”
• Example 8:
  • 胶囊旅馆虽然小，但是很干净。
  • Pinyin: Jiāonáng lǚguǎn suīrán xiǎo, dànshì hěn gānjìng.
  • English: Although capsule hotels are small, they are very clean.
  • Analysis: A simple sentence a traveler might use to describe their experience.
• Example 9:
  • 请把胶囊里的药粉倒进水里。
  • Pinyin: Qǐng bǎ jiāonáng lǐ de yàofěn dào jìn shuǐ lǐ.
  • English: Please pour the medicinal powder from inside the capsule into the water.
  • Analysis: This sentence describes the physical nature of a capsule—a shell containing powder. This is useful for people (like children) who can't swallow pills.
• Example 10:
  • 这种中药被制成了胶囊，方便服用。
  • Pinyin: Zhè zhǒng zhōngyào bèi zhì chéngle jiāonáng, fāngbiàn fúyòng.
  • English: This type of traditional Chinese medicine has been made into capsules for convenient consumption.
  • Analysis: Highlights the blending of Traditional Chinese Medicine (中药) with modern pharmaceutical forms.

• Measure Word is 粒 (lì): The correct measure word for a single capsule is 粒 (lì). For example, 一粒胶囊 (yī lì jiāonáng). While you might hear native speakers colloquially use 个 (ge), using 粒 (lì) is more precise and correct, especially in writing.
  • Correct: `请吃两粒这个胶囊。 (Qǐng chī liǎng lì zhège jiāonáng.)`
  • Incorrect (but common): `请吃两个这个胶囊。 (Qǐng chī liǎng ge zhège jiāonáng.)`
• 胶囊 (jiāonáng) vs. 药片 (yàopiàn): These are not interchangeable. A 胶囊 is a shell filled with powder. A 药片 (yàopiàn) is a solid, compressed pill or tablet. Be sure to use the right word when describing medicine.

• 药片 (yàopiàn) - Tablet/pill. The main alternative form for oral medication.
• 药丸 (yàowán) - A general term for “pill,” often referring to small, round, traditional pills.
• 粒 (lì) - The standard measure word for capsules, pills, grains, and other small, roundish objects.
• 旅馆 (lǚguǎn) - Hotel/inn. The general category that a 胶囊旅馆 belongs to.
• 公寓 (gōngyù) - Apartment. Used in 胶囊公寓 (jiāonáng gōngyù), a similar concept to a capsule hotel but for longer-term stays.
• 太空舱 (tàikōngcāng) - A synonym for “space capsule,” where 舱 (cāng) specifically means “cabin” or “module.”
• 中药 (zhōngyào) - Traditional Chinese Medicine. Often packaged in 胶囊 form today.
• 咖啡 (kāfēi) - Coffee. Frequently seen in the compound word 咖啡胶囊 (kāfēi jiāonáng).