土

tǔ

HSK 4

土 — tǔ

1. Tu (an ethnic minority group in China)

   土族是中国的一个少数民族。 tǔzú shì zhōngguó de yígè shǎoshùmínzú — The Tu people are an ethnic minority in China.

2. earth; soil; ground; dirt

   花盆里需要更多的土。 huāpénlǐ xūyào gèngduō de tǔ — The flowerpot needs more soil.

3. dust; earth (as loose particles)

   刮大风后，桌子上落了一层土。 guā dàfēng hòu zhuōzi shàng là le yīcéng tǔ — After the strong wind, a layer of dust settled on the table.

4. clay (for pottery, construction)

   工匠用红土烧制陶碗。 gōngjiàng yòng hóngtǔ shāo zhìtáo wǎn — The craftsman fires bowls from red clay.

5. local; indigenous; from the region

   这里的土特产很受游客欢迎。 zhèlǐ de tǔtèchǎn hěn shòu yóukè huānyíng — Local specialties from here are popular with tourists.

6. unsophisticated; rustic; coarse; lacking refinement (pejorative)

   别笑他穿得土，他只是穿着随便。 bié xiào tā chuān dé tǔ tā zhǐshì chuānzhe suíbiàn — Don't laugh at him for looking unsophisticated; he's just dressed casually.

7. crude opium (obsolete/colloquial)

   旧时鸦片馆里出售的土质量参差不齐。 jiùshí yāpiàn guǎnlǐ chūshòu de tǔ zhìliàng cēncībùqí — The crude opium sold in the old opium dens varied in quality.

8. one of the eight categories of ancient musical instruments (earth instruments) (八音)

   古代乐器按材质分八音，土便是其中之一。 gǔdài yuèqì àn cáizhì fēn bāyīn tǔ biànshì qízhōng zhīyī — Ancient instruments were grouped by material into the eight sounds, of which 'tu' is one.

9. Tu (surname)

   我姓土，请多关照。 wǒ xìng tǔ qǐngduōguānzhào — My surname is Tu; please look after me.