1. Character Basics
2. Pronunciation
3. Meaning
- A piece, a lump, a chunk
- A block, a square
- Classifier (measure word) for block-shaped or certain flat objects
- Informal term for yuan (Chinese currency)
4. Common Words
5. Grammar & Usage
The character "块" has two main uses in Chinese: as a noun referring to a block or piece of something, and as a classifier (measure word) for block-shaped objects or certain flat items. It's also commonly used informally to refer to yuan (Chinese currency unit).
请给我一块面包。(Qǐng gěi wǒ yī kuài miànbāo.) - Please give me a piece of bread.
我在地上捡到一块钱。(Wǒ zài dìshang jiǎndào yī kuài qián.) - I found one yuan on the ground.
这块石头很大。(Zhè kuài shítou hěn dà.) - This stone is very big.
这个软件由多个模块组成。(Zhège ruǎnjiàn yóu duō gè mókuài zǔchéng.) - This software is composed of multiple modules.
他块头很大，看起来很健壮。(Tā kuàitóu hěn dà, kànqǐlái hěn jiànzhuàng.) - He has a big build and looks very strong.
6. Cultural Background
The character "块" is formed by combining "土" (tǔ, soil/earth) and "夬" (guài, to decide). Originally referring to a lump or piece of earth, it has evolved to become one of the most common measure words in Chinese.
The term "方块字" (square characters) is often used to describe Chinese characters, reflecting their traditional square shape and structure. This reflects an important aspect of Chinese writing culture, where characters are seen as balanced and symmetrical.
In terms of currency, while "元" (yuán) is the official term, "块" is widely used in colloquial speech to refer to yuan, showing how characters can develop informal meanings in daily usage.
7. Example Sentence
孩子们正在用积木块搭建一座城堡。
The children are building a castle with building blocks.
8. Memory Tips
To remember the character "块", look at its structure: it consists of "土" (tǔ, soil/earth) and "夬" (guài, to decide). You can imagine a piece of earth (土) that has been separated or decided (夬) from the rest, forming a block. The pronunciation "kuài" sounds similar to "快" (kuài, fast) but with a different tone.
Another way to remember it is to associate it with common objects we count with this measure word, like pieces of bread, blocks of wood, or even yuan coins.