Chinese word

海绵

Pronunciation

Pinyinhǎi mián

Meaning

  • nounsponge

Example

请把海绵递给我。qǐng bǎ hǎi mián dì gěi wǒ

Please pass me the sponge.

Illustration for 海绵 (sponge)

More examples

手术中医生用了一块海绵止血。shǒu shù zhōng yī shēng yòng le yí kuài hǎi mián zhǐ xuè

During the operation, the doctor used a sponge to stop the bleeding.

Core concept

A soft, porous body that takes in water and returns to shape after pressure.

Common phrases

  • 洗碗用海绵xí wǎn yòng hǎi mián

    dishwashing sponge

  • 医用海绵yī yòng hǎi mián

    medical sponge

  • 海绵块hǎi mián kuài

    piece of sponge

Definition in Chinese

一种质地柔软、多孔、能吸水的物质或物品，原指生活在海里的海绵动物，现也指用作清洁、擦拭或填充的人造或天然海绵。yì zhǒng zhì dì róu ruǎn duō kǒng néng xī shuǐ de wù zhì huò wù pǐn yuán zhǐ shēng huó zài hái lǐ de hǎi mián dòng wù xiàn yě zhǐ yòng zuò qīng jié cā shì huò tián chōng de rén zào huò tiān rán hǎi mián

Word origin

海绵 (hǎimián, "sponge") combines 海 (hǎi, "sea") with 绵 (mián, "soft cotton-like material"), first naming the porous sea animal and later similar natural or manufactured material.

Usage tips

  • In household conversation, context often identifies whether the item is for washing dishes, bathing, or filling, so the surrounding activity matters more than the noun alone.

Related words

  • 海绵蛋糕hǎi mián dàn gāosponge cakenoun
  • 合成海绵hé chéng hǎi miánsynthetic spongenoun

Word lists with this word