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沙 (shā) — sand; Surname (Shā); granulated substance (in compounds)

Definition

Most often appears in compounds — 沙子 (sand), 沙发 (sofa), 沙锅 (clay pot) — rather than standing alone. The plain noun sense is sand, but 沙 also serves as a surname.

noun
sandSurname (Shā)granulated substance (in compounds)
Measure word · 粒

Examples

  • 沙。
    Hǎi biān de shā yòu xì yòu bái.
    The sand at the beach is both fine and white.
  • 沙，。
    Tā xìng shā, shì yún nán rén.
    His surname is Sha, and he's from Yunnan.
  • 。
    Zhè ge shā guō kě yǐ yòng lái zhǔ tāng.
    This clay pot can be used to simmer soup.

Origin

Compound ideograph
六书liùshū
会意huìyì

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

沙 puts 少 (dots) beside 水 (water), showing sand on a shoreline.

Appears in
Materials & Substances5000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

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