Chinese word

壳

Pronunciation

Pinyinké

Meaning

  • nounshell

Example

这个鸡蛋的壳很薄。zhè ge jī dàn de ké hěn báo

The shell of this egg is very thin.

Illustration for 壳 (shell)

More examples

地壳的运动会引起地震。dì qiào de yùn dòng huì yín qǐ dì zhèn

Movement of the Earth's crust can cause earthquakes.

Core concept

A firm or thin outer layer that surrounds and protects something inside.

Common phrases

  • 地壳dì qiào

    Earth's crust

  • 甲壳类jiǎ qiào lèi

    crustaceans

  • 蛋壳dàn ké

    eggshell

Similar words

外壳wài ké: The outer covering that protects the parts inside a machine or electronic device.
皮pí: A soft, thin covering on the outside of an animal or fruit.
蛋壳dàn ké: The hard covering around a bird's egg.
贝壳bèi ké: The hard covering that surrounds and protects a shellfish's body.

Definition in Chinese

覆盖在物体外面的硬或较薄的一层保护组织或构造，如蛋的外层、贝壳或器物的外壳。fù gài zài wù tǐ wài miàn de yìng huò jiào báo de yì céng bǎo hù zǔ zhī huò gòu zào rú dàn de wài céng bèi ké huò qì wù de wài ké

Word origin

The noun 壳 (ké, "shell") retains the older Chinese sense of an outer covering, while its modern written form comes from the traditional character 殼 (ké, "shell").

Usage tips

  • The pronunciation ké is common in everyday terms, while the reading qiào appears in technical terms such as 地壳 (dìqiào, "Earth's crust") and 甲壳 (jiǎqiào, "shell or carapace").

Other meanings

  • casingnoun
  • husknoun

Opposites

Related words

  • 地壳dì qiàoEarth's crustnoun
  • 甲壳类jiǎ qiào lèicrustaceannoun
  • 蛋壳dàn kéeggshellnoun

Word lists with this word