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采矿 (cǎi kuàng) — to mine (minerals, ores)

Definition

采矿 specifically means mining minerals or ores from the earth. 开采 is a near-synonym used more broadly for extracting any natural resource; 采集 focuses on collecting samples or specimens, not excavation.

verb
to mine (minerals, ores)

Examples

  • 采矿。
    Tā zài kuàng qū fù zé cǎi kuàng zuò yè.
    He is in charge of mining operations at the mining area.
  • 采矿。
    Wú jié zhì dì cǎi kuàng dǎo zhì zī yuán kū jié.
    Uncontrolled mining leads to depletion of resources.
  • 采矿。
    Zì dòng huà cǎi kuàng shè bèi tí gāo le gōng zuò xiào lǜ.
    Automated mining equipment has improved work efficiency.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

采cǎimine/gather
矿kuàngore/minerals

采矿 puts 采 (mine/gather) before 矿 (ore/minerals), meaning to extract minerals.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 採; 采 is its simplified writing.

The simplified 采 stands for more than one traditional character. In most words (采访, 采购) it is 採; in others it is 采.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
扌Written in full as手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
采
采cǎi採cǎi
Same sound today

The traditional form 採 combines 扌 (hand) with 采, which gives the sound and means to pick.

Open 采 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 礦; 矿 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
石石shístone
Sound part声符shēngfú
廣
廣guǎng礦kuàng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 礦 shows 石, meaning stone, beside 廣, which gives the sound. The simplified 矿 is a later shorthand, so its parts are not the original parts.

Open 矿 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Industry & Manufacturing

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.