晶石 (jīng dàn) — spar

Definition

晶石 means 'spar' — a crystalline mineral, often translucent or brightly colored, valued by collectors and geologists. The character 晶 ('crystal') distinguishes it from plain 石头 and signals its crystalline structure.

noun
spar
Measure word · 块

Examples

  • 晶石。
    Zhè zhǒng jīng dàn shì yì zhǒng cháng jiàn de kuàng wù.
    This kind of spar is a common mineral.
  • 晶石。
    Dì zhì xué jiā zài shān shàng fā xiàn le xǔ duō měi lì de jīng dàn.
    Geologists found many beautiful spars on the mountain.
  • 晶石。
    Tā shōu cáng le hěn duō bù tóng zhǒng lèi de jīng dàn.
    He collected many different kinds of spars.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

晶jīngcrystal
石shístone

晶 gives the crystal-like quality, and 石 names the stone, forming a crystalline mineral.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

晶 is drawn as three suns placed together, giving a picture of bright light.

Open 晶 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The shape of 石 shows a stone under a cliff-like overhang, or a cave set into a cliff side.

Open 石 →

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