kuàng
Mineral, ore, mine

1. Character Basics

Radical: 石 (shí, stone/rock)
Stroke Count: 8
Stroke Order:
石 广 矿

2. Pronunciation

Pinyin: kuàng
Tone: 4th tone (falling)
Audio: s

3. Meaning

  • Mineral, ore
  • Mine, mining
  • Related to rocks and minerals

4. Common Words

矿产 kuàng chǎn Mineral resources, mineral products
矿山 kuàng shān Mine, mining mountain
煤矿 méi kuàng Coal mine, coal
金矿 jīn kuàng Gold mine, gold ore
矿工 kuàng gōng Miner, mine worker
矿泉水 kuàng quán shuǐ Mineral water

5. Grammar & Usage

The character "矿" is mainly used as a noun to refer to minerals, ores, or mines. It is often combined with other characters to form compound words related to mining, minerals, and geological resources.

As a noun (in compound words):

这个地区有丰富的矿产资源。(Zhège dìqū yǒu fēngfù de kuàngchǎn zīyuán.) - This area has rich mineral resources.

他的父亲是一名矿工。(Tā de fùqīn shì yī míng kuànggōng.) - His father is a miner.

In compound words for specific types of minerals:

煤矿在这个国家的经济中扮演重要角色。(Méikuàng zài zhège guójiā de jīngjì zhōng bànyǎn zhòngyào juésè.) - Coal mines play an important role in this country's economy.

她喜欢喝矿泉水而不是纯净水。(Tā xǐhuan hē kuàngquánshuǐ ér bùshì chúnjìngshuǐ.) - She prefers to drink mineral water rather than pure water.

6. Cultural Background

The character "矿" consists of "石" (shí, stone/rock) and "广" (guǎng, wide/open). This combination suggests rocks or stones found in the earth. Historically, mining has played an important role in Chinese civilization, with evidence of mining activities dating back thousands of years.

In ancient China, minerals such as copper, iron, and gold were mined and used for making tools, weapons, and decorative objects. The mining industry has continued to be a vital part of China's economy, particularly with the country's abundant coal reserves and other mineral resources.

The term "矿泉水" (kuàngquánshuǐ, mineral water) reflects the traditional Chinese belief in the health benefits of water that contains natural minerals, a concept that continues to be popular in modern times.

7. Example Sentence

中国是世界上最大的煤矿生产国之一。

Zhōngguó shì shìjiè shàng zuì dà de méikuàng shēngchǎn guó zhī yī.

China is one of the world's largest coal producers.

8. Memory Tips

To remember the character "矿", look at its structure: it has "石" (shí, stone/rock) on the left and "广" (guǎng, wide/open) on the right. You can think of it as representing rocks found in the earth, which connects to its meaning of "mineral" or "ore".

Another helpful mnemonic is to associate "矿" with common words like "煤矿" (méikuàng, coal mine) or "矿泉水" (kuàngquánshuǐ, mineral water), which are familiar terms in daily life. This can help you remember both the meaning and the pronunciation of "矿" (kuàng).