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坯 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
坯pīclay; unburnt earthenwaren, 8 strokes, radical 土, rank #48278, Very Hard
坯pīblank (e.g. for a coin)unknown, 8 strokes, radical 土, rank #48278, Very Hard
坯pīsemifinished productunknown, 8 strokes, radical 土, rank #48278, Very Hard
坯pīTaiwan pr. [pei1]unknown, 8 strokes, radical 土, rank #48278, Very Hard
pī(pi1)pi T1
  1. 1clay; unburnt earthenware
  2. 2blank (e.g. for a coin)
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March 24, 2026

坯pī(pi1)

The character 坯 (pī) refers to unburnt clay or earthenware, often used in pottery before it is fired. It can also denote a semifinished product or a blank form, such as a coin that has not yet been minted. In practical contexts, it is commonly used in discussions about ceramics or construction materials.

Strokes8Radical土Frequency#48278DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In traditional Chinese culture, pottery and ceramics have a long history, and the use of 坯 signifies the important steps in creating functional and artistic items. Pottery is often linked to regional styles and techniques that are celebrated in various Chinese festivals.

Memory tip

Imagine a potter shaping a piece of clay (坯) on a spinning wheel. The character 坯 looks like a flat base (土) on which the clay (the upper part) sits, reminding you that it’s still in its raw form, waiting to be fired.

Meanings of 坯

pī(pi1)
1clay; unburnt earthenware
2blank (e.g. for a coin)
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 坯 means.

About 坯

坯Simplified
8Strokes
土Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 坯

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Podcast: 坯

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AI Study Notes for 坯

Usage Notes

Be cautious not to confuse 坯 (pī) with similar-sounding words or characters, as it is a specific term in ceramics. It is used in more formal contexts related to pottery and manufacturing. Common collocations include 坯体 (pī tǐ, 'unfired body') or 坯料 (pī liào, 'raw material').

HSK Study Tips

While 坯 is not part of the HSK vocabulary lists, it connects to HSK Level 3 and 4 words related to materials and crafts. Students should focus on recognizing its usage in crafting and manufacturing contexts as well as learning related terms.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 坯 (pī) with similar characters like 批 (pī, 'to approve') or 皮 (pí, 'skin'). Ensure you remember that 坯 specifically relates to clay and pottery, not approval or skin.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 坯

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Jason Explains 坯 to You

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Etymology of 坯

Formation typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory hint

earth

Semantic (meaning)土
+
Phonetic (sound)丕
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

坯 = 土 + 丕. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 坯

IDS Structure⿰土丕
坯Full character
=
土Tu3
left
丕pi1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 坯?

How to say clay; unburnt earthenware in Chinese

“clay; unburnt earthenware” in Chinese is坯pī

The character 坯 (pī) refers to unburnt clay or earthenware, often used in pottery before it is fired. It can also denote a semifinished product or a blank form, such as a coin that has not yet been minted. In practical contexts, it is commonly used in discussions about ceramics or construction materials.

When to use 坯

Be cautious not to confuse 坯 (pī) with similar-sounding words or characters, as it is a specific term in ceramics. It is used in more formal contexts related to pottery and manufacturing. Common collocations include 坯体 (pī tǐ, 'unfired body') or 坯料 (pī liào, 'raw material').

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 坯 (pī) with similar characters like 批 (pī, 'to approve') or 皮 (pí, 'skin'). Ensure you remember that 坯 specifically relates to clay and pottery, not approval or skin.

Write 坯

坯

Practice writing 坯 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar Patterns of 坯

坯 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 4 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 2

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

他用拉____轮机把一团粘土加工成了一只碗.

He throws a bowl from a ball of clay.

Example Sentences for 坯 (2)

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1
他用拉坯轮机把一团粘土加工成了一只碗.

tā yòng lā pī lún Jī bǎ yī tuán nián tǔ jiāgōng chéng le yī zhī wǎn.

He throws a bowl from a ball of clay.
2
轮子一边转动,制陶工人一边拉坯。

lúnzi yìbiān zhuàndòng, zhì táo gōngrén yìbiān lā pī。

As the wheel turned, the potter shaped the clay.

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Word Family of 坯

Words containing this character7
坯pīunburnt earthenware
毛坯semifinished products
坯子base
钢坯billet (steel industry)鋼坯
土坯mud brick
坯布gray cloth
坯料semifinished materials
Exercise 1 of 4

Words with 坯

What does 毛坯 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 坯

While 坯 specifically refers to unburnt clay or semifinished products, other terms like 陶 (táo) refer to finished pottery.

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