A Chinese box seen to be in need of repairs (9)
I believe the answer is:
cantonese
'a chinese' is the definition.
(Cantonese is an example)
'box seen to be in need of repairs' is the wordplay.
'box' becomes 'canto' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should believe this answer much more).
'to be in need of repairs' indicates an anagram (I've seen 'in need of repair' mean this).
'seen' anagrammed gives 'nese'.
'canto'+'nese'='CANTONESE'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for cantonese that I've seen before include "tongue" , "way to cook" , "Chinese language" , "Asian language?" , "such food?" .)