土 (tǔ) - Earth, soil, ground, land & indigenous, local

土Tone 3

tǔ ｜ 3 strokes ｜ radical: 土

婷婉

土 · tǔ

Earth, soil, ground, land;

indigenous, local;

rustic, unrefined.

Earth, soil, ground, landindigenous, localrustic, unrefined.

Usage highlights

SoilEarthLocal specialtyNative placeDustPotato

Synonyms

  • 地— earth, ground
  • 壤— soil, earth

Antonyms

  • 洋— foreign, modern
  • 天— sky, heaven

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The soil is fertile (土壤肥沃).
  • This is local produce (土特产).
  • He has a rustic accent (土腔).
  • Ancient people worshipped the earth god (土地神).

Collocations

  • Soil(土壤)
  • Earth(土地)
  • Local specialty(土特产)
  • Native place(乡土)
  • Dust(尘土)
  • Potato(土豆)

Idioms

  • Native soil is hard to leave(故土难离)
  • As if gaining a timely rain(如获至土)
  • Local methods and native products(土法土产)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • One of the Five Elements in Chinese philosophy, representing stability, nourishment, and the center.
  • Historically associated with agriculture and the foundation of civilization.
  • In modern usage, can carry connotations of being rustic or unsophisticated.

FAQ