鲸脂
jīng zhī
The English phrase 'blubber' is translated into Chinese as 鲸脂 (jīng zhī).
鲸脂 refers specifically to the thick layer of fat found under the skin of whales and other marine mammals.
What does it mean word for word?
The term is a compound of 鲸 (jīng), meaning whale and 脂 (zhī), meaning fat or grease.
How do you pronounce it?
jīng zhī
Did you know?
- In Chinese, the word for 'fat' used in 鲸脂 is distinct from the word for 'fat' used when describing a person's weight, which is 胖.
- While 鲸脂 describes a whale's fat, the word 脂 is used in the term 脂粉 to describe face powder and cosmetics, linking animal grease to the history of makeup.
- The character 鲸 contains the 'fish' radical on the left, yet in modern Chinese, it is used for all cetaceans, including dolphins, despite them being mammals.
Examples in context
- 这种鲸鱼有厚厚的脂肪层，可以保护它们在寒冷的水域中生存。These whales have a thick layer of blubber that helps them survive in cold waters.
- 这种鲸脂非常厚。zhè zhǒng jīng zhī fēi cháng hòu.This type of blubber is very thick.
- 科学家在研究鲸脂的成分。kē xué jiā zài yán jiū jīng zhī de chéng fèn.Scientists are researching the composition of blubber.
- 鲸脂可以用来制作油。jīng zhī kě yǐ yòng lái zhì zuò yóu.Blubber can be used to make oil.
Example conversation
Two students are watching a nature documentary in a library.
- 雨婷 Yuting你看，这层鲸脂保护着它。nǐ kàn, zhè céng jīng zhī bǎo hù zhe tā.Look, this layer of blubber protects it.
- 俊杰 Junjie很有意思，它在寒冷的海里生存。hěn yǒu yì si, tā zài hán lěng de hǎi lǐ shēng cún.That's interesting, it survives in the cold sea.
- 雨婷 Yuting俊杰，你知道鲸脂有多厚吗？jùn jié, nǐ zhī dào jīng zhī yǒu duō hòu ma?Junjie, do you know how thick the blubber is?
- 俊杰 Junjie我也不太清楚具体的厚度。wǒ yě bù tài qīng chǔ jù tǐ de hòu dù.I'm not quite sure about the specific thickness.
