(zuàn shí) - diamond in Mandarin
zuànshíTraditional: 鑽石
Translation
diamond
Word origin
A compound of 钻 (zuàn, a drill, to bore) and 石 (shí, stone), so the stone that drills, named for its use as a cutting tip.
- Origin
- compound
- Root
- 钻 (zuàn, drill; 金 metal + 占 phonetic) + 石 (shí, stone)
Stroke order
钻
石
Examples
枚颗。
There is a diamond on this ring.
。
Diamonds are expensive.
链。
He gave her a diamond necklace.
。
This diamond is big and bright.
。
Diamond is the hardest thing in the world.
钻石 (zuàn shí) is a diamond, whether the gem in a ring or the industrial grit on a cutting wheel. The name is honest about where the word came from: the stone was known for boring through other stones long before it was known for engagements.
The tone on the first character does real work. 钻 as zuān is a verb meaning to bore or to burrow, as in 钻进被子里 (to burrow under the duvet). As zuàn it is the drill itself, and that is the reading you need here.
For counting, use 颗 (kē) for loose stones and gems: 一颗钻石. Reaching for the default 个 is understood but sounds careless in the same way "a diamond bit" does in English jewellery talk.
Where this fits
Add to review queue
Track this word in your spaced-repetition queue and be tested on it at the right interval.
Go to my review queueMandarin · Free printables
钻石: worksheet, infographic and listicle
Free printable study downloads for the Mandarin word "钻石" (diamond): a worksheet with the answer key built in, an infographic, and a sentence listicle. Open any one to view, print or save.
Free for members
The printable worksheets, infographics and PDFs are free with an account. Start a free week and download as many as you like.
Start your free weekThis word is part of lesson 50.