泥土 nítǔ earth
earth; soil; mud; clay
How to remember 泥土: 泥 mud + 土 earth = earth.
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How it is used
- Means soil/earth/dirt - 泥土的芬芳 (nítǔ de fēnfāng) the smell of the earth.
- General word for the ground material plants grow in, or mud on your shoes; slightly more literary than plain 土 (tǔ).
- Contrast 泥 (ní), which leans toward wet mud/paste; 泥土 covers earth and soil more broadly.