Definitions

shā (noun) sand; gravel

Etymology

Many small  stones  also provides the pronunciation

About

As a phono-semantic compound, 砂 combines the stone radical 石 on the left, indicating its connection to rocks and minerals, with 少 on the right, which provides the pronunciation and hints at smallness. It refers to sand, gravel, or grit, emphasizing hard, granular mineral particles. This distinguishes it from 沙, which often implies sand in watery contexts. In modern usage, 砂 frequently appears in technical and industrial terms for abrasives, mineral deposits, or medicinal powders with a granular texture.

Example Sentences Hide

糖是白色的。

Shātáng shì báisè de.

Sugar is white.

妈妈用锅炖汤。

Māma yòng shāguō dùn tāng.

Mom stews soup in a clay pot.

他用纸打磨木头。

Tā yòng shāzhǐ dǎmó mùtou.

He sands the wood with sandpaper.

路上有很多石。

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.

这座山是由岩构成的。

Zhè zuò shān shì yóu shāyán gòuchéng de.

This mountain is composed of sandstone.

土不适合种植水稻。

Shātǔ bù shìhé zhòngzhí shuǐdào.

Sandy soil is not suitable for growing rice.

工程师分析了的颗粒成分。

Gōngchéngshī fēnxī le shā de kēlì chéngfèn.

The engineer analyzed the granular composition of sand.