Definitions

kuài (noun) piece; chunk; lump
kuài (noun) unit of Chinese currency (Yuan)
kuài (classifier) classifier for pieces; chunks; currency

Etymology

Simplified form of . Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character "块" derives from its traditional form "塊", structured with the earth radical "土" and the phonetic component "鬼", originally conveying the specific notion of a clod or lump of soil. Its semantic scope gradually extended to encompass any solid mass or fragment of substance, while also acquiring a grammatical role as a measure word for chunk-like entities. In the simplified construction, the phonetic element was altered to "夬", streamlining the character's form without departing from its fundamental associations with solid pieces and quantifiable units.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Seal etymology image
Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我有一钱。

Wǒ yǒu yī kuài qián.

I have one yuan.

糖很甜。

Zhè kuài táng hěn tián.

This piece of candy is very sweet.

请拿一饼干。

Qǐng ná yī kuài bǐnggān.

Please take a piece of biscuit.

他掉了五钱。

Tā diào le wǔ kuài qián.

He dropped five yuan.

木头很硬。

Zhè kuài mùtou hěn yìng.

This piece of wood is very hard.

妈妈买了一新表。

Māma mǎi le yī kuài xīn biǎo.

Mom bought a new watch.

地种了蔬菜。

Zhè kuài dì zhòng le shūcài.

This piece of land is planted with vegetables.

我用十钱买了三橡皮。

Wǒ yòng shí kuài qián mǎi le sān kuài xiàngpí.

I used ten yuan to buy three erasers.