HSK · Level 40
120 words
Chinese word
岩石
Pronunciation
Pinyinyán shí
Meaning
- nounrock
Example
山上散落着许多岩石。shān shàng sàn luò zhe xǔ duō yán shí
Many rocks lie scattered on the mountain.
More examples
地质学家在野外采集了多个岩石样本。dì zhì xué jiā zài yě wài cǎi jí le duō gè yán shí yàng běn
A geologist collected several rock samples in the field.
Core concept
Stone as part of the natural landscape, whether it lies as a large block or forms the hard material of a rock layer.
Common phrases
岩石样本yán shí yàng běn
rock sample
岩石层yán shí céng
rock layer
岩石圈yán shí quān
lithosphere
Similar words
石头shí tou: A common spoken term for an ordinary stone.
石块shí kuài: One distinct block of stone with a clear shape, treated as a physical object.
大石dà shí: One especially large stone that stands out because of its size.
Definition in Chinese
指较大的天然石块，如山中或河岸上可见的石块，也可泛指岩层中的石质部分。zhǐ jiào dà de tiān rán shí kuài rú shān zhōng huò hé àn shàng kě jiàn de shí kuài yě kě fàn zhǐ yán céng zhōng de shí zhì bù fèn
Word origin
岩 (yán, "crag") + 石 (shí, "stone") forms a compound for a natural rocky mass or its stony material.
Usage tips
- This noun often appears in factual descriptions of terrain, hiking information, and geology, so recognizing it helps with written and spoken descriptions of natural scenery.