铜 (tóng) — copper
Definition
A noun for the metal copper, the reddish-brown material used for wires, coins, and alloys. 铜牌 is not copper itself — it means 'bronze medal/plaque' (the alloy or the award).
noun
copper
Measure word · 块
Easily confused
Examples
- 铜。Yǐ qián rén men yòng tóng lái zuò yìng bì.In the past people used copper to make coins.
- 铜。Hěn duō diàn xiàn dōu shì yòng tóng zuò de.Many electric wires are made of copper.
- 铜。Zhè kuài tóng shì zuó tiān mǎi de.This piece of copper was bought yesterday.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost 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 銅; 铜 is its simplified writing.
The traditional form 銅 pairs 金 (metal) with 同 as the sound part; the simplified 铜 is a shorthand.
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