金刚石 (jīn gāng shí) — diamond (mineral, gemstone)

Definition

noun

diamond (mineral, gemstone)

Measure word · 颗

金刚石。
jīn gāng shí Shì zì rán jiè zhōng zuì yìng de wù zhì.
Diamond is the hardest substance in nature.
金刚石。
Zhè kē jīn gāng shí zhòng dá shí kè lā.
This diamond weighs ten carats.
金刚石。
Gōng yè shàng cháng yòng jīn gāng shí lái qiē gē bō li.
In industry, diamonds are often used to cut glass.

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.

金刚vajra/indestructible

联合Side by side

金刚石 names a stone of 金刚, a precious and hard vajra-like substance; 石 gives stone.

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.

金 was drawn with marks for two pieces of metal, along with a part that gave its sound; it first meant copper, then metals and gold.

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 剛; 刚 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 剛 was made by combining a picture-like sign with a sign that gave its sound; the simplified 刚 is a later shorthand.

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.