白垩 (bái è) — chalk (calcium carbonate, soft limestone)

Definition

白垩 (bái è) is a soft white limestone (calcium carbonate) — the geological term, not classroom chalk (which is 粉笔). Also names the Cretaceous period (白垩纪).

noun
chalk (calcium carbonate, soft limestone)
Measure word · 种

Examples

  • 白垩。
    Zhè zhǒng bái è zhǔ yào yòng yú gōng yè hé jiàn zhù.
    This kind of chalk is mainly used in industry and construction.
  • 。
    Kǒng lóng zài bái è jì fēi cháng fán shèng.
    Dinosaurs flourished in the Cretaceous period.
  • 白垩。
    Kē xué jiā zài yán céng zhōng fā xiàn le dà liàng bái è.
    Scientists discovered a large amount of chalk in the rock layers.

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.

白báiwhite
垩èchalky earth

White and chalky earth combine to name soft limestone or chalk.

Characters in this word

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

白 is thought to picture either an acorn or a human head.

Open 白 →

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

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