Meanings of 土
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About 土
Podcast: 土
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
Drill the tone of 土 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Etymology of 土
Pictograph of a lump of clay on a pottery wheel.
A lump of clay on a potter's wheel
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 土
Pictograph of a lump of clay on a pottery wheel.
- 1The giveawayA lump of clay on a potter's wheel
- 2On the record aspictographic — someone drew the thing itself.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 土? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 土?
Decomposition of 土
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 土?
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.
Complete the Sentence
____耳其局势将成为明天《卫报》的头条。
The Turkish situation makes the lead in tomorrow's Guardian.
Common Confusions with 土
Similar shape but different meaning.
Spot the Difference
Which character means "earth"?
Example Sentences for 土 (10)
Word Family of 土
Compound Meaning
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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