Definitions

(noun) grain; granule
(classifier) classifier for small round things (pills, seeds, bullets)

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character "粒" is a phono-semantic compound incorporating the semantic radical 米, which signifies rice or grain, and the phonetic component 立, which indicates its pronunciation. Its initial meaning was confined to small edible grains, primarily rice, but over time its application expanded to denote any minute, discrete particle, such as a sand grain or a bead. This semantic extension subsequently allowed the character to serve as a classifier for small, roundish items in modern Chinese.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

桌子上有一米。

Zhuōzi shàng yǒu yí lì mǐ.

There is a grain of rice on the table.

他捡起一沙子。

Tā jiǎn qǐ yí lì shāzi.

He picked up a grain of sand.

这些颗很小。

Zhèxiē kēlì hěn xiǎo.

These particles are very small.

种子能长成大树。

Yí lì zhǒngzi néng zhǎng chéng dà shù.

A seed can grow into a big tree.

空气中充满灰尘颗

Kōngqì zhōng chōngmǎn huīchén kēlì.

The air is full of dust particles.

药丸都必须吞下。

Měi lì yàowán dōu bìxū tūn xià.

Every pill must be swallowed.

量子物理研究微观子。

Liàngzǐ wùlǐ yánjiū wēiguān lìzǐ.

Quantum physics studies microscopic particles.

这种材料由纳米颗构成。

Zhè zhǒng cáiliào yóu nàmǐ kēlì gòuchéng.

This material is composed of nanoparticles.