砂

shā
少 + 石

Definitions

shā (noun) sand; gravel

Etymology

Many small 少 stones 石; 少 also provides the pronunciation

About

砂 is a phono-semantic compound: the left-side stone radical 石 anchors the meaning to rocks and minerals, while the right-side component 少 (shǎo) provides the pronunciation and hints at smallness. Together they evoke many tiny stone particles, sand, gravel, grit, or finely crushed stone. Unlike 沙, which often implies sand in watery settings, 砂 emphasizes hard, coarse, mineral-based granules. In modern usage, it frequently appears in technical and industrial contexts for abrasives, specific mineral deposits, and medicinal powders with a granular, sand-like texture.

Example Sentences Hide

砂糖是白色的。

Shātáng shì báisè de.

Sugar is white.

妈妈用砂锅炖汤。

Māma yòng shāguō dùn tāng.

Mom stews soup in a clay pot.

他用砂纸打磨木头。

Tā yòng shāzhǐ dǎmó mùtou.

He sands the wood with sandpaper.

路上有很多砂石。

Lù shàng yǒu hěn duō shāshí.

There is a lot of sand and gravel on the road.

工人在车间里用砂轮磨刀。

Gōngrén zài chējiān lǐ yòng shālún mó dāo.

The worker sharpens the knife with a grinding wheel in the workshop.

这座山是由砂岩构成的。

Zhè zuò shān shì yóu shāyán gòuchéng de.

This mountain is composed of sandstone.

砂土不适合种植水稻。

Shātǔ bù shìhé zhòngzhí shuǐdào.

Sandy soil is not suitable for growing rice.

工程师分析了砂的颗粒成分。

Gōngchéngshī fēnxī le shā de kēlì chéngfèn.

The engineer analyzed the granular composition of sand.

Related Characters

Component: 少

省 沙 妙 劣 秒 吵 抄 纱 炒 钞 眇 杪 耖 紗

Component: 石

确 研 破 础 硬 码 碰 矿 碎 岩 碍 磨 磁 碗

Example Words

砂锅 朱砂 白砂糖 砂岩 砂糖 磨砂 磨砂膏 紫砂 丹砂 砂仁 砂子 砂浆 砂石 砂砾 砂糖橘 砂纸 砂轮 硼砂 粗砂 金刚砂 铁砂