颗粒 (kē lì) — granule, grain, kernel; granulated (used attrib… | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

颗 means "small round thing"; 颗粒 is a noun for a single granule or particle. The classifier 粒 (lì) counts small round things; 颗粒 stresses the physical form, while 粮食 refers to edible grain as food.

noun

granulegrainkernelgranulated (used attributively before nouns, e.g. 颗粒糖)

Measure word · 颗

Examples

颗粒，。
Zhè zhǒng yào de kē lì hěn xiǎo, róng yì xī shōu.
The granules of this medicine are very small and easy to absorb.
颗粒。
Kā fēi kē lì yào fàng zài gān zào de dì fāng.
Coffee granules should be kept in a dry place.
颗粒，。
Tǔ rǎng zhōng de kē lì dà xiǎo bù tóng, yǐng xiǎng zhí wù shēng zhǎng.
The particles in the soil vary in size, affecting plant growth.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

颗kēkernel

颗 and 粒 both point to small round grains, so together they name a granule.

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 顆; 颗 is its simplified writing.

果頁顆

Meaning part形符xíngfú

頁頁yèhead

Sound part声符shēngfú

果

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 顆 combines 果, which gives the sound, with 頁, meaning head. This is about 顆, not the simplified 颗.

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

米立粒

Meaning part形符xíngfú

米米mǐrice

Sound part声符shēngfú

立

立lì粒lì

Same sound today

粒 pairs 米 (rice) with 立, which gives its pronunciation.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 7-9 HSK 2.0 Level 6 Materials & Substances

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.