金属 jīnshǔ metal
How to remember 金属: 金 gold + 属 class = metal.
Characters
How it is used
- Metal (the material category) - 金属材料 (jīnshǔ cáiliào) metal materials, 贵金属 (guì jīnshǔ) precious metals.
- The scientific/general term for metals as a class; measure word 种 (zhǒng) for kinds.
- 属 = category/class, so it's literally the "gold class" of substances.
Example sentences
- 硬币是金属做的。 Yìngbì shì jīnshǔ zuò de.Coins are made of metal.
- 铁是个有用的金属。 Tiěshì gè yǒuyòng de jīnshǔ.Iron is a useful metal.
- 铁是种有用的金属。 Tiěshì zhǒng yǒuyòng de jīnshǔ.Iron is a useful metal.