Definitions
(noun)
roof tile; tile
(noun)
watt
Etymology
Pictograph of an object related to pottery.
About
The character 瓦 began as a pictograph depicting the profile of overlapping roof tiles, a form that has remained structurally stable across centuries. Its primary etymological sense was narrowly focused on these baked clay roofing elements, but through metonymic extension, it gradually came to represent any object made from fired clay, such as pottery, urns, or vessels. This semantic broadening aligned with the material's widespread use in both architecture and domestic crafts. In a more contemporary linguistic development, the character was later borrowed solely for its phonetic value to transcribe the Western unit of power "watt", marking a significant shift from its original tangible meaning to an abstract, measured unit.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
屋顶上有红瓦。
一块瓦从房上掉下来。
工人正在铺瓦片。
这座庙用的是琉璃瓦。
奶奶的瓦罐里腌着咸菜。
这台空调的功率是一千瓦。
博物馆展出了古代的瓦当。
那位老瓦匠在细心修补老屋的瓦顶。