TongTong
Sign in

金子 (jīn zi) — gold

Definition

金子 is plain 'gold' as a material — the everyday word for jewelry, bars, or objects. 黄金 is more formal and also used as an attributive meaning 'golden / prime' (黄金时间).

noun
gold
Measure word · 块

Examples

  • 金子，。
    Zhè kuài jīn zi hěn chún, yán sè hěn piào liang.
    This piece of gold is very pure and has a beautiful color.
  • 金子。
    Tā jié hūn shí shōu dào le yì tiáo jīn zi xiàng liàn.
    She received a gold necklace when she got married.
  • 金子。
    jīn zi Shì yì zhǒng fēi cháng guì zhòng de jīn shǔ.
    Gold is a very precious metal.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

金jīngold
子zǐ

Gold is expressed by 金, with 子 rounding out the everyday term.

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.

Open 金 →

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

子 is drawn as a baby with a large head, arms stretched out, and legs wrapped in a blanket.

Open 子 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 6Materials & Substances5000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

Browse more HSK 6 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.