烤箱 (kǎo xiāng) literally combines 烤 (kǎo), meaning 'to roast' or 'to bake', and 箱 (xiāng), meaning 'box' or 'cabinet'. Together, they form the word for 'oven' — a kitchen appliance used for baking, roasting, and heating food using dry heat. It is a common fixture in modern Chinese homes and professional kitchens, especially where Western-style cooking or baked goods like bread, cakes, and roasted meats are prepared.

The term is neutral in register and widely understood across all age groups and regions of China. Unlike traditional stoves or woks, a 烤箱 emphasizes even, enclosed heating, making it distinct from open-flame cooking methods. It’s often contrasted with 蒸箱 (steam oven) or 微波炉 (microwave oven), which use different heating principles. In daily life, people commonly say '预热烤箱' (preheat the oven) before baking, reflecting its standard role in recipe instructions.