HSK · Level 66
75 words
Chinese word
核
Pronunciation
Pinyinhé
Meaning
- nounpit
Example
吃桃子时别把核吞下了。chī táo zi shí bié bǎ hé tūn xià le
When eating a peach, do not swallow the pit.
More examples
科学家用粒子束研究原子核的结构。kē xué jiā yòng lì zi shù yán jiū yuán zǐ hé de jié gòu
Scientists use particle beams to study the structure of an atomic nucleus.
Core concept
The firm or concentrated center of a larger whole, from a fruit to an idea or an atom.
Common phrases
核心hé xīn
core
原子核yuán zǐ hé
atomic nucleus
核反应hé fǎn yìng
nuclear reaction
Similar words
核心hé xīn: The central part that gives something its main importance or meaning.
种子zhǒng zi: A small grain or plant part that can develop into a new plant.
果核guǒ hé: A fruit's hard inner center, generally left uneaten.
Definition in Chinese
果实中包着种子的坚硬部分；引申为事物的中心或最重要的部分；在物理学上指原子核，由质子和中子组成。guǒ shí zhōng bāo zhe zhǒng zi de jiān yìng bù fèn yǐn shēn wèi shì wù de zhōng xīn huò zuì zhòng yào de bù fèn zài wù lǐ xué shàng zhǐ yuán zǐ hé yóu zhì zi hé zhōng zi zǔ chéng
Word origin
The character 核 (hé, "pit") is formed from 木 (mù, "wood"), which points toward plant matter, and 亥 (hài, "phonetic element"); its original fruit sense developed into the idea of a central part.
Usage tips
- In conversation, the fruit sense is usually clear from the food context, while the wider sense belongs to discussions of central points, structures, or matter, so context is especially important.
Other meanings
- corenoun
- nucleusnoun
Opposites
- 边缘biān yuánedgenoun
- 外围wài wéiouter areanoun