粘土
niántǔ
The Chinese word for clay is 粘土 (niántǔ).
粘土 refers to the mineral substance known as clay.
Meaning: mineral substance (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word 粘土 is composed of 粘 (nián), meaning 'sticky' or 'adhesive' and 土 (tǔ), meaning 'earth' or 'soil'.
How do you pronounce it?
niántǔ
Did you know?
- The character 粘 contains the radical for 'rice' 米, reflecting the historical observation that cooked rice is one of the stickiest substances found in nature.
- The word 土 (tǔ) used in 粘土 can also be used as a slang adjective meaning 'uncultured', 'rustic', or 'outdated'.
- The character 粘 can be pronounced zhān when used as a verb meaning 'to stick', but it is pronounced nián when referring to the 'sticky' texture of 粘土.
Examples in context
- 陶工巧妙地将泥土塑造成精美的花瓶。The potter skillfully molded the clay into exquisite vases.
- 这种粘土很适合做陶器。zhè zhǒng niántǔ hěn shìhé zuò táoqì.This kind of clay is very suitable for making pottery.
- 他在山上挖了一些粘土。tā zài shānshàng wā le yìxiē niántǔ.He dug up some clay on the mountain.
- 这种粘土的质地非常细腻。zhè zhǒng niántǔ de zhìdì fēicháng xìnì.The texture of this clay is very fine.
Example conversation
A pottery class where Zhiqiang is preparing materials.
- 志强 Zhiqiang晓雯，你看这些粘土怎么样？Xiǎowén, nǐ kàn zhèxiē niántǔ zěnmeyàng?Xiaowen, what do you think of this clay?
- 晓雯 Xiaowen这些粘土看起来很软。zhèxiē niántǔ kàn qǐlái hěn ruǎn.This clay looks very soft.
- 志强 Zhiqiang对，我很喜欢这种手感。duì, wǒ hěn xǐhuān zhè zhǒng shǒugǎn.Right, I really like the feel of it.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen那我们快开始练习吧。nà wǒmen kuài kāishǐ liànxí ba.Then let's start practicing quickly.
