陶器製造 / 陶器制造
táoqì zhìzào
The English phrase "pottery" can be translated into Mandarin as 陶器製造 / 陶器制造 (táoqì zhìzào). If unsure, use 陶器製造 / 陶器制造. Wiktionary also lists 陶藝 / 陶艺 (táoyì).
Meaning: practise or craft of making pottery (noun)
Ways to say it
| Mandarin | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 陶器製造 / 陶器制造 | táoqì zhìzào |
| 陶藝 / 陶艺 | táoyì |
Mandarin uses different terms for pottery depending on whether you are discussing the technical manufacturing process or the artistic practice.
What does it mean word for word?
In the term 陶器製造 / 陶器制造, the component 陶器 (pottery) is composed of táo (pottery/ceramics) and qì (vessel/apparatus). In the term 陶藝 / 陶艺, the component yì (art/skill) is appended to táo (pottery) to denote the artistic discipline.
Which one should you use?
陶器製造 / 陶器制造 refers specifically to the industrial or technical process of manufacturing pottery products. In contrast, 陶藝 / 陶艺 refers to pottery as an art form or a creative craft.
How do you pronounce it?
táoqì zhìzào
Did you know?
- In traditional Chinese culture, a person of great talent and nobility is sometimes called a 器 (qì), treating the human soul as a finely crafted vessel.
- In the term 陶器 (pottery), the character 器 (vessel/apparatus) is often used in modern Mandarin to describe high-tech electronic devices, such as 'computers' or 'instruments'.
- The word 陶 (táo) also appears in the phrase 陶冶 (táo yě), meaning to mold or cultivate a person's character as if they were clay.
Examples in context
- 这个陶瓷艺术品非常漂亮。This pottery artwork is very beautiful.
- 我最近对陶艺很感兴趣。Lately, I have been very interested in pottery art.
- 这个陶器被认为是一件非常珍贵的文物。This pottery ware is considered a very valuable cultural relic.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “pottery” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
