甆 (cí) - Porcelain & ceramic ware

甆Tone 2

cí ｜ 13 strokes ｜ radical:

橙丁

甆 · cí

Porcelain;

ceramic ware;

china.

Porcelainceramic warechina.

Usage highlights

PorcelainCeramicsPorcelain shardPorcelain vasePorcelain kilnEnamel

Synonyms

  • 瓷— porcelain; china
  • 陶瓷— pottery and porcelain; ceramics

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • This is fine Chinese porcelain (瓷器).
  • The museum has a collection of ancient ceramics (陶瓷).
  • A shard of broken porcelain (瓷片).
  • A porcelain vase (瓷瓶).

Collocations

  • Porcelain(瓷器)
  • Ceramics(陶瓷)
  • Porcelain shard(瓷片)
  • Porcelain vase(瓷瓶)
  • Porcelain kiln(瓷窑)
  • Enamel(珐琅瓷)

Idioms

  • As white as jade, as clear as ice(冰清玉洁 - metaphor for purity, like fine porcelain)
  • A shattered vase cannot be restored(破镜难圆 - similar concept for broken porcelain)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • China is the birthplace of porcelain, with a history of production dating back thousands of years.
  • The word 'china' in English for porcelain derives from the country name, highlighting its historical association with Chinese exports.
  • Porcelain was a major commodity on the Silk Road and a key element of Chinese material culture and artistry.

FAQ