紙 (zhǐ) - Paper — a thin material made from pulp

紙Tone 3

zhǐ ｜ 10 strokes ｜ radical:

丈志

紙 · zhǐ

Paper — a thin material made from pulp of wood, rags, or other fibrous substances, used for writing, printing, or wrapping.

Paper — a thin material made from pulp

Usage highlights

Paper moneyNewspaperToilet paperTissue paperWrapping paperPaper bag

Synonyms

  • 纸张— paper (general term)

Antonyms

  • 帛— silk (used as a writing surface before paper)
  • 竹— bamboo (used for slips before paper)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • I need a piece of paper (一张纸).
  • This is toilet paper (卫生纸).
  • He wrote a letter on paper (在纸上).
  • She folded the paper into a crane (折纸).

Collocations

  • Paper money(纸币)
  • Newspaper(报纸)
  • Toilet paper(卫生纸)
  • Tissue paper(纸巾)
  • Wrapping paper(包装纸)
  • Paper bag(纸袋)

Idioms

  • Paper cannot wrap up a fire(纸包不住火)
  • A sheet of official writing is worth a thousand ounces of gold(一纸千金)
  • All talk on paper(纸上谈兵)
  • Gold paper and jite characters(金纸玉字)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Invented in China during the Han dynasty, paper was a revolutionary technology for recording and spreading knowledge.
  • Paper plays a central role in traditional Chinese arts such as calligraphy, painting, and paper cutting.
  • The invention of paper is traditionally credited to Cai Lun in the Eastern Han dynasty.
  • Paper money, first developed in China, represents a significant innovation in economic history.

FAQ