袋

A phono-semantic compound:

衣 (의) — semantic component, indicating cloth, garment-related material

代 (대) — phonetic component, supplying the sound (대 / dài)

The character originally referred to a cloth container worn on or attached to clothing, which naturally generalized to bags and sacks of various kinds.

Semantic development:

- cloth pouch — wearable or attached bag

- flexible container — sack, bag, packet

- quantity unit — amount contained in a bag

袋 is widely used for containers made of cloth or flexible material, both literal and figurative.

Common compounds:

자루 (袋) — sack; bag

주머니 (袋) — pouch; pocket

봉투 / 봉지 (袋) — bag; packet

마대 (麻袋) — hemp sack

종이봉투 (紙袋) — paper bag

비닐봉지 (塑料袋) — plastic bag

Set phrases:

한 봉지 (一袋) — one bag

자루째 — bagful; by the sack

Unlike 箱 (box) or 匣 (case), 袋 emphasizes softness and flexibility.

Related characters (containers & bags):

包 — wrap; package

囊 — sack; bag (often larger or literary)

箱 — box

匣 — case

衣 — clothing; garment

Among these, 袋 denotes soft, wearable or carryable containers.