砖 (zhuān) - brick — a rectangular block of baked or & metaphorically refers to something hard, heavy, or unyielding.

砖Tone 1

zhuān ｜ 9 strokes ｜ radical:

志

砖 · zhuān

brick — a rectangular block of baked or dried clay used for building construction;

metaphorically refers to something hard, heavy, or unyielding.

brick — a rectangular block of baked ormetaphorically refers to something hard, heavy, or unyielding.

Usage highlights

brickred brickbrick wallbrick kilnpaving brickbrick and tile

Synonyms

Antonyms

  • 玉— jade (in the context of value)
  • 瓦— tile (different building material)
  • 木— wood (softer building material)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The wall is made of red bricks (红砖).
  • They used bricks to build the house (用砖建房).
  • This book is as heavy as a brick (像砖一样重).
  • He threw a brick through the window (扔砖头).

Collocations

  • brick(砖头)
  • red brick(红砖)
  • brick wall(砖墙)
  • brick kiln(砖窑)
  • paving brick(铺地砖)
  • brick and tile(砖瓦)

Idioms

  • Add bricks and tiles(添砖加瓦)
  • Throw the first brick to attract jade(抛砖引玉)
  • As hard as iron and stone(铁砖石硬)
  • Brick and tile work(砖瓦工程)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Bricks have been fundamental construction materials in China since ancient times, with evidence of fired brick production dating back to the Zhou Dynasty.
  • In Chinese culture, bricks symbolize solidity, durability, and basic building blocks of construction and society.
  • The idiom '抛砖引玉' (throw a brick to attract jade) reflects the cultural value of humility - offering a modest opinion to elicit valuable contributions from others.

FAQ