Meanings of 土
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About 土
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Podcast: 土
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AI Study Notes for 土
土 (tǔ, earth) vs 地 (dì, ground) — use 土 for natural soil or earth, while 地 is more abstract, often referring to land or location.
Be careful not to confuse 土 with other similar characters, like 地 (dì), which specifically means 'land' or 'ground' in a more formal sense. 土 is generally used in more informal contexts. Common collocations include '土壤' (tǔrǎng - soil) and '土豆' (tǔdòu - potato), which literally means 'earth bean.'
While 土 is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, it connects to several basic characters and concepts learned at beginner levels, such as '地' (dì, ground) and '家' (jiā, home), as they often refer to physical spaces. Focus on recognizing its use in compound words.
Learners often confuse 土 (tǔ) with 地 (dì), using them interchangeably in sentences. For instance, saying '土上' (tǔ shàng) instead of '地上' (dì shàng) when referring to 'on the ground' is incorrect; the correct term is 地上.
Pronunciation of 土
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Jason Explains 土 to You
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Learning Lab
Knowing 土 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
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Etymology of 土
Pictograph of a lump of clay on a pottery wheel.
A lump of clay on a potter's wheel
Origin
What kind of character is 土?
Decomposition of 土
Parts
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How to say earth in Chinese
“earth” in Chinese is土
The character 土 (tǔ) primarily means 'earth' or 'soil' and is used in contexts related to land, ground, and nature. It can also refer to local or indigenous aspects, and is a common radical found in many other characters. Additionally, 土 can denote unsophisticated or crude qualities, and it has cultural significance in relation to the Tu ethnic group in China.
When to use 土
Be careful not to confuse 土 with other similar characters, like 地 (dì), which specifically means 'land' or 'ground' in a more formal sense. 土 is generally used in more informal contexts. Common collocations include '土壤' (tǔrǎng - soil) and '土豆' (tǔdòu - potato), which literally means 'earth bean.'
土 or something close to it
土 (tǔ, earth) vs 地 (dì, ground) — use 土 for natural soil or earth, while 地 is more abstract, often referring to land or location.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 土 (tǔ) with 地 (dì), using them interchangeably in sentences. For instance, saying '土上' (tǔ shàng) instead of '地上' (dì shàng) when referring to 'on the ground' is incorrect; the correct term is 地上.
Write 土
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Practice writing 土 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 土
土 carries 12 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
Fill the gap
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植物需要阳光、水和肥沃的____才能生长。
Plants need sunlight, water, and fertile earth to grow.
Common Confusions with 土
Similar shape but different meaning.
Which one
Which one means “earth”?
Example Sentences for 土 (14)
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Word Family of 土
Characters with 土
What does 在 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 土
Phrases that include 土 (tǔ) are '土豆' (tǔdòu), which means potato, and '土地' (tǔdì), which means land. These phrases help illustrate the versatile use of the character in everyday language.
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