Meanings of 坯
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About 坯
Podcast: 坯
Podcast: 坯
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AI Study Notes for 坯
Be cautious not to confuse 坯 (pī) with similar-sounding words or characters, as it is a specific term in ceramics. It is used in more formal contexts related to pottery and manufacturing. Common collocations include 坯体 (pī tǐ, 'unfired body') or 坯料 (pī liào, 'raw material').
While 坯 is not part of the HSK vocabulary lists, it connects to HSK Level 3 and 4 words related to materials and crafts. Students should focus on recognizing its usage in crafting and manufacturing contexts as well as learning related terms.
Learners often confuse 坯 (pī) with similar characters like 批 (pī, 'to approve') or 皮 (pí, 'skin'). Ensure you remember that 坯 specifically relates to clay and pottery, not approval or skin.
Pronunciation of 坯
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Etymology of 坯
earth
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 坯
- 1The meaning half土 carries the sense.
- 2The sound half丕 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
- 3The giveawayearth
- 4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 坯? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
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Decomposition of 坯
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How to say clay; unburnt earthenware in Chinese
“clay; unburnt earthenware” in Chinese is坯
The character 坯 (pī) refers to unburnt clay or earthenware, often used in pottery before it is fired. It can also denote a semifinished product or a blank form, such as a coin that has not yet been minted. In practical contexts, it is commonly used in discussions about ceramics or construction materials.
When to use 坯
Be cautious not to confuse 坯 (pī) with similar-sounding words or characters, as it is a specific term in ceramics. It is used in more formal contexts related to pottery and manufacturing. Common collocations include 坯体 (pī tǐ, 'unfired body') or 坯料 (pī liào, 'raw material').
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 坯 (pī) with similar characters like 批 (pī, 'to approve') or 皮 (pí, 'skin'). Ensure you remember that 坯 specifically relates to clay and pottery, not approval or skin.
Write 坯
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Practice writing 坯 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 坯
坯 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 4 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Complete the Sentence
他用拉____轮机把一团粘土加工成了一只碗.
He throws a bowl from a ball of clay.
Example Sentences for 坯 (2)
Word Family of 坯
Compound Meaning
What does 坯 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 坯
While 坯 specifically refers to unburnt clay or semifinished products, other terms like 陶 (táo) refer to finished pottery.
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