About
The character "煤" is etymologically a phono-semantic compound, integrating the semantic radical 火 (fire) with the phonetic component 某, which historically guided its pronunciation. Initially, the term applied to black carbonaceous residues like soot or lampblack, a usage evident in early texts where it described fine powders derived from incomplete combustion. As societal familiarity with mineral resources grew, the semantic scope of "煤" narrowed and solidified to specifically denote the sedimentary rock coal, a vital fossil fuel extracted for energy and heat. This semantic shift from a general soot to a specific mineral reflects the material's escalating utilitarian prominence, while the character's structural integrity, with the fire radical persistently signaling its combustive nature, has remained unchanged across centuries of use.
Example Sentences Hide
这个城市用煤取暖。
煤炭是一种重要能源。
工人们在煤矿里工作。
工厂燃烧煤来发电。
煤的开采会影响环境。
中国是煤的生产大国。
煤的贸易在全球很活跃。
尽管煤污染环境，但它仍是主要能源。