块状 (kuài zhuàng) — (of a substance) lumpy, in lumps or blocks

Definition

Adjective-like noun describing matter that forms lumps or blocks rather than powder, liquid, or fine grain. Often used in scientific and industrial contexts (e.g. minerals, fuel, medicine).

noun
(of a substance) lumpyin lumps or blocks

Examples

  • 块状，。
    Zhè zhǒng yào shì kuài zhuàng de, fú yòng qián yào niǎn suì.
    This medicine is lumpy — you need to grind it before taking it.
  • 块状。
    Dì zhì xué jiā zài yán shí zhōng fā xiàn le kuài zhuàng kuàng wù.
    Geologists found lumpy minerals in the rock.
  • 块状。
    Méi tàn jīng guò jiā gōng hòu biàn chéng kuài zhuàng rán liào.
    After processing, coal becomes a block-like fuel.

Origin

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.

块kuàilump
状zhuàngshape

'块' (lump) and '状' (shape) combine to mean lump-shaped.

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 塊; 块 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
土土tǔearth; dust
Sound part声符shēngfú
鬼
鬼guǐ塊kuài
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 塊 pairs 土 (earth; dust) with 鬼 as a sound part to show a clod of dirt. The simplified 块 is a later shorthand, so its parts are not the historical pieces.

Open 块 →

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 狀; 状 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
犬犬quǎn
Sound part声符shēngfú
爿
爿pán狀zhuàng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 狀 pairs 犬 (dog) with 爿 as a sound component; the simplified 状 is a shorthand, not the historical shape.

Open 状 →

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