金石 (jīn shí) — metal and stone (as symbols of hardness and durability); bronze vessels and stone tablets (historical inscriptions; epigraphy); gold and precious stones; jewelry

Definition

Literary/archaic compound with two main senses: (1) 'metal and stone' as a metaphor for hardness and permanence (坚如金石), and (2) ancient bronze vessels and stone inscriptions studied in epigraphy.

noun
metal and stone (as symbols of hardness and durability)bronze vessels and stone tablets (historical inscriptions; epigraphy)gold and precious stonesjewelry

Examples

  • 金石。
    Tā men de yǒu yì jiān rú jīn shí.
    Their friendship is as firm as metal and stone.
  • 金石。
    Kǎo gǔ xué jiā yán jiū gǔ dài jīn shí shàng de wén zì.
    Archaeologists study the writing on ancient bronze and stone inscriptions.
  • 金石，。
    Tā dài le yí tào jīn shí shǒu shì, fēi cháng huá lì.
    She wore a set of gold and precious stone jewelry, very splendid.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

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

金jīnmetal
石shístone

金 and 石 refer to metal and stone, hence durable inscriptions.

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.

The shape of 石 shows a stone under a cliff-like overhang, or a cave set into a cliff side.

Open 石 →

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