Definitions

(verb) to model; sculpt (in clay, wax etc.)
(noun) plastic

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

is a phono-semantic compound: the bottom component (tǔ) provides the meaning of earth or clay, while the top component (shuò), although it ordinarily means 'new moon', functions here as a phonetic indicator. Originally, the character referred to the act of modeling, molding, or sculpting figures out of soft materials like clay. With the advent of modern industrial materials, its use expanded to express the concept of plasticity, and it became the standard term for synthetic plastics and polymers, bridging the gap between ancient clay sculpting and contemporary materials science.

Example Sentences Hide

我买了一个料杯。

Wǒ mǎi le yī gè sùliào bēi.

I bought a plastic cup.

公园很漂亮。

Diāosù gōngyuán hěn piàoliang.

The sculpture park is very beautiful.

他用泥土造了一个小人。

Tā yòng nítǔ sùzào le yī gè xiǎo rén.

He molded a little figure with clay.

料污染对环境有害。

Sùliào wūrǎn duì huánjìng yǒuhài.

Plastic pollution is harmful to the environment.

艺术家正在雕一尊大理石像。

Yìshùjiā zhèngzài diāosù yī zūn dàlǐshí xiàng.

The artist is sculpting a marble statue.

教育可以造人的性格。

Jiàoyù kěyǐ sùzào rén de xìnggé.

Education can shape a person's character.

这种新型料可生物降解。

Zhè zhǒng xīnxíng sùliào kě shēngwù jiàngjiě.

This new type of plastic is biodegradable.

为了减少料垃圾,我们应当使用可重复利用的容器。

Wèile jiǎnshǎo sùliào lājī, wǒmen yīngdāng shǐyòng kě chóngfù lìyòng de róngqì.

In order to reduce plastic waste, we should use reusable containers.