块
Definitions & Senses
A clod of earth or a lump of soil. Measure word for chunks and pieces; colloquial term for a yuan (money). Earth (土) split by a crack (夬) into a solid broken-off lump.
Don't Confuse 块 (kuài) with 快 (kuài)
Same sound, different meaning: money vs. speed
They sound identical, but 块 is about chunks and cash, while 快 is about speed. The trick is in the radical.
块 has the earth radical (土) on the left, hinting at dirt and lumps. 快 has the heart radical (忄) on the left, linking to quickness and emotion.
Think of a lump of earth (块) sitting still, while a fast runner (快) has a heart pounding.
Everyday Phrases with 块 You'll Hear All the Time
From money to chunks, these are the go-to combos
Plug-and-Play Sentence Templates
Use 块 to talk about prices and pieces instantly
State the price in colloquial yuan, optionally adding 钱.
这个苹果三块钱。
This apple is three yuan.
Use 块 as a measure word for chunk-like objects.
给我一块橡皮。
Give me an eraser.
When to Use 块 vs. 元 vs. 个
Money and measure word rules that save you from awkward mistakes
块 is the casual money word and the measure word for chunks. 元 is formal, and 个 is for general objects.
Money: Use 块 in spoken Chinese, 元 in formal writing or prices on tags.
这本书五十块。 (This book is 50 yuan.)
Measure word: Use 块 for flat, solid, or lumpy things: cake, bread, stone, wood, soap, land.
一块面包 (a loaf of bread), 一块地 (a plot of land)
Don't use 块 for people, animals, or long thin objects – use 个, 只, or 条 instead.
一个人 (a person), 一只猫 (a cat), 一条路 (a road)
The Character's Secret: Earth Split by a Crack
See the lump in the character and never forget it
块 is made of 土 (earth) on the left and 夬 (guài) on the right, which suggests a split. The image: a solid clod of earth broken off.
The left radical 土 means 'earth' or 'soil'. The right part 夬 originally depicted a crack or a decision, but here it hints at something split off. Together, they form the idea of a lump of earth – a chunk. This visual of a broken-off clod is the core meaning that extends to pieces and money.
Measure Word Checklist: What 块 Pairs With
The concrete objects that take 块 – and what to avoid
Use 块 for things that are flat, solid, or lumpy. Think: you can break it off a larger mass.
Real Context Sentences 1 occurrence
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我有三 块 钱。
Character Breakdown
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