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矿藏 (kuàng cáng) — mineral resources

Definition

Refers to mineral deposits and resources found in the ground — a more specific term than 宝藏 (which can also mean figurative 'treasure'). Pairs with 矿产 as the natural resources themselves, while 矿 is the mine or ore itself.

noun
mineral resources
Measure word · 种

Examples

  • 矿藏。
    Zhè ge dì qū de kuàng cáng fēi cháng fēng fù.
    The mineral resources in this region are very abundant.
  • 矿藏。
    Kāi fā kuàng cáng xū yào xiān jìn de jì shù.
    Developing mineral resources requires advanced technology.
  • 矿藏。
    Tā men zhèng zài kān tàn xīn de kuàng cáng.
    They are exploring new mineral resources.

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.

矿kuàngmineral
藏cángstored deposit

矿, minerals, and 藏, stored deposits, together mean mineral resources.

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 礦; 矿 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
石石shístone
Sound part声符shēngfú
廣
廣guǎng礦kuàng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 礦 shows 石, meaning stone, beside 廣, which gives the sound. The simplified 矿 is a later shorthand, so its parts are not the original parts.

Open 矿 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
艸艸cǎograss
Sound part声符shēngfú
臧
臧zāng藏cáng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

藏 is made from 艸 (grass) and 臧, where 臧 gives the sound.

Open 藏 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9

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