box
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box
A usually cuboid container made of cardboard or thin card, used for storing or transporting objects.
Die alten Fotos bewahre ich in einer großen Schachtel auf dem Dachboden auf.
I keep the old photos in a large box in the attic.
pack
A colloquial term for a pack of cigarettes.
Kannst du mir vom Kiosk eine Schachtel Zigaretten mitbringen?
Can you bring me a pack of cigarettes from the kiosk?
In colloquial speech, 'Schachtel' (box/pack) is often used as a short form for 'eine Schachtel Zigaretten' (a pack of cigarettes). The meaning is usually clear from the context of the conversation.
Er raucht eine ganze Schachtel pro Tag.
He smokes a whole pack a day.
'Schachtel' (box) is often combined with the contents stored inside it. Typical examples are 'eine Schachtel Pralinen' (a box of chocolates), 'eine Schachtel Streichhölzer' (a box of matches), or 'eine Schachtel Taschentücher' (a box of tissues).
Zum Geburtstag bekam sie eine große Schachtel Pralinen.
For her birthday, she received a large box of chocolates.
Pay attention to the case after the preposition: 'in die Schachtel' (into the box, accusative) describes movement, while 'in der Schachtel' (in the box, dative) describes a location.
Ich lege die Briefe in die Schachtel.
I put the letters into the box.
box
Both words refer to small containers for storing or transporting things. Schachtel is especially suitable for a container made of cardboard or thin card, while Box can be made of other materials and sounds more general. Schachtel is therefore often more precise for typical cardboard packaging.
Die Kekse sind in einer hübschen Schachtel aus Pappe verpackt.
The cookies are packaged in a pretty cardboard box.
Die kleinen Werkzeuge liegen zusammen in einer Kunststoffbox.
The small tools are all together in a plastic box.
