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煤炭 (méi tàn) — coal

Definition

煤炭 is the standard formal term for 'coal' as a natural resource or industry commodity. 煤 is the short form often used in compounds; 炭 by itself usually means charcoal.

noun
coal
Measure word · 吨

Examples

  • 煤炭。
    Zhōng guó shì shì jiè shàng zuì dà de méi tàn shēng chǎn guó.
    China is the world's largest coal producer.
  • 煤炭。
    Rán shāo méi tàn huì chǎn shēng dà liàng èr yǎng huà tàn.
    Burning coal produces a large amount of carbon dioxide.
  • 煤炭。
    Zhè ge dì qū yǐ fēng fù de méi tàn zī yuán wén míng.
    This region is famous for its abundant coal resources.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

煤méicoal
炭tàncharcoal

煤 and 炭 both refer to coal-like fuel; together they name coal in general.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
火火huǒfire
Sound part声符shēngfú
某
某mǒu煤méi
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

煤 puts 火 (fire) on the left and 某 on the right; the fire part relates to coal, and 某 gives the sound.

Open 煤 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
火火huǒfire
Sound part声符shēngfú
岸
岸àn炭tàn
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

炭 combines 火 (fire) with 岸, which provides the sound. The 火 part connects the character to fire or burning material.

Open 炭 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9HSK 2.0 Level 5Energy & Power

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