Dictionary🇨🇳 Chinese → 🇺🇸 English

cái

Description

“材”常常指做东西用的东西,比如木头。

"材" often refers to materials used for making things, such as wood.

它也可以说一个人有能力,很多词里都有这个字,比如“人材”和“材料”。

It can also mean a person's ability; many words contain this character, like "人材" and "材料".

Meanings

材料cáiliào

material; raw stuff for making things

我们买了很多木材。

We bought a lot of timber.

人材réncái

talented or capable person

这家公司需要好的人材。

This company needs good talent.

Related words

Notes

  • Etymology

    木 (wood) + 才 (phonetic), originally meaning timber for building.

  • Nuance

    材 rarely stands alone; it appears in compounds like 材料, 木材, 教材.

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