陶罐 (táo guàn) — earthenware jar; clay pot

Definition

A traditional earthenware storage jar, made from clay and often used historically for grain or liquids. Distinct from modern ceramic or porcelain vessels by its coarse, rustic style.

noun
earthenware jarclay pot
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 陶罐。
    Zhè ge táo guàn hěn piào liang.
    This earthenware jar is very beautiful.
  • 陶罐。
    Gǔ dài rén yòng táo guàn chǔ cún liáng shi.
    Ancient people used clay pots to store grain.
  • 陶罐。
    Bó wù guǎn zhǎn chū le yí gè cǎi huì táo guàn.
    The museum displayed a painted earthenware jar.

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.

陶táopottery
罐guànjar

陶 (pottery) specifies the material of 罐 (jar).

Characters in this word

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

  • 阜阜fùmound of dirt
  • 勹勹bāotwo people
  • 土土tǔearth

The oldest 陶 paired 阜 (mound of dirt) with 勹 (two people) and 土 (earth), showing digging; the parts below 勹 later changed.

Open 陶 →

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
缶缶fǒupottery
Sound part声符shēngfú
雚
雚guàn罐guàn(r)
Same sound today

The left part 缶 shows pottery, while the right part 雚 gives the pronunciation.

Open 罐 →

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