Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
块(塊)kuài(kuai4)
块 (kuài) is a versatile character meaning 'lump' or 'piece.' It is commonly used to refer to chunks of material, such as cake or cloth, and also serves as a colloquial term for money, particularly the yuan. In everyday conversation, it's frequently used when discussing amounts of currency.
Strokes7Radical土Frequency#372DifficultyEasy
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, using 块 to refer to money reflects the informal way people discuss finances in everyday life, similar to how Americans might say 'bucks' to mean dollars. This colloquial usage is deeply embedded in casual conversations.
Memory Tip
Imagine a big, chunky block of cake (块) that's so heavy you can barely lift it. The shape of the character 块 resembles a piece being cut from a larger block, helping you remember that it means 'piece' or 'lump' in both a physical and financial sense.
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 块
Quick Contrast
块 (kuài) vs 片 (piàn) — use 块 for solid, lump-like pieces, while 片 refers to flat, thin slices.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a big, chunky block of cake (块) that's so heavy you can barely lift it. The shape of the character 块 resembles a piece being cut from a larger block, helping you remember that it means 'piece' or 'lump' in both a physical and financial sense.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 块 with 片 (piàn), which also means 'piece' but is used for flat items like paper. 块 is informal and colloquial, especially when referring to money, so it's best used in casual conversations rather than formal writing.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK 1 word, 块 connects well with other basic vocabulary relating to money and objects. Focus on practicing its usage in sentences to solidify your understanding of how it functions as a measure word for currency and physical items.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, using 块 to refer to money reflects the informal way people discuss finances in everyday life, similar to how Americans might say 'bucks' to mean dollars. This colloquial usage is deeply embedded in casual conversations.
Common Mistakes
Learners often misuse 块 when referring to flat items, mistakenly saying '一块纸' (yī kuài zhǐ - one piece of paper) instead of '一片纸' (yī piàn zhǐ). Remember, 块 is for lumps or chunks, while 片 is for flat pieces.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 块
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 块 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 块 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
Grammar Patterns of 块
块 carries 8 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
As the day goes on, the pollen dries up and becomes hard.
7
有人把一大块石头给凿空了。
yǒu rén bǎ yī dà kuài shí tóu gěi záo kōng le。
Someone had hollowed out a large block of stone.
8
多亏一块1/4英寸厚的防弹钢板，他才捡了条命。
duō kuī yī kuài1/4 1/4 yīng cùn hòu de fáng dàn gāng， bǎn ， tā cái jiǎn le。
His life was saved by a quarter-inch-thick bullet-proof steel screen.
9
他注意到机翼在一块一块地断裂。
tā zhù yì dào jī yì zài yī kuài yī kuài dì duàn liè。
He noticed that fabric was tearing away from the plane's wing.
10
尼罗河在此处变宽，从两块花岗岩巨石间穿过。
ní luó hé zài cǐ chǔ biàn kuān， ， cóng liǎng kuài huā gǎng yán jù shí jiān chuān。
Here the Nile broadens out between the huge granite boulders.
Cultural Notes for 块
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, using 块 to refer to money reflects the informal way people discuss finances in everyday life, similar to how Americans might say 'bucks' to mean dollars. This colloquial usage is deeply embedded in casual conversations.
Word Family of 块
Words Containing This Character20
块kuàichunk塊
板块bǎnkuàislab板塊
地块tectonic plate地塊
一块儿yíkuàirone block一塊兒
模块functional unit模塊
冰块ice cube冰塊
大块头heavy man大塊頭
一块one block一塊
石块stone石塊
方块cube方塊
块头size塊頭
切块to cut into pieces切塊
块状lump塊狀
肿块swelling腫塊
血块blood clot血塊
模块化modularity模塊化
碎块fragment碎塊
砌块building block砌塊
砖块brick磚塊
块茎stem tuber塊莖
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 块 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 块
No, 块 is primarily used for colloquial references to the yuan and other currencies in informal contexts.
You can use 块 as a measure word, for example: '我买了三个块蛋糕' (I bought three pieces of cake).
No, 块 is informal and should be avoided in formal writing or discussions about finance.
