粉末 (fěn mò) — fine powder, dust

Definition

粉末 is a fine, processed powder (metal dust, coffee grounds) — finer and more manufactured than 土 (raw earth/dust) or 灰 (ash). 粉 alone emphasizes cosmetic/edible powder, not industrial dust.

noun
fine powderdust

Examples

  • 粉末。
    Kā fēi fěn mò yào mì fēng bǎo cún.
    Coffee powder should be stored in an airtight container.
  • 粉末。
    Zhè zhǒng fěn mò kě yǐ yòng lái zuò miàn mó.
    This kind of powder can be used to make face masks.
  • 粉末。
    Gōng chǎng lǐ piāo zhe hěn duō jīn shǔ fěn mò.
    A lot of metal dust floats in the factory.

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.

粉fěnpowder
末mòfine particles

粉 (powder) and 末 (fine particles) together mean dust or powder.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
米米mǐrice
Sound part声符shēngfú
分
分fēn粉fěn
Same sound today

粉 pairs 米 (rice) with 分 for its sound. The rice part points to face powder made from rice.

Open 粉 →

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

末 adds a mark at the top of a tree-like shape to show its tip or end.

Open 末 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9HSK 2.0 Level 6Materials & Substances

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