金属
How to Understand
金属 (jīn shǔ) means 'metal' in English. It refers to a class of materials that are typically hard, shiny, and conductive, such as iron, copper, or aluminum. Unlike non-metals, metals are generally good conductors of heat and electricity.
The character 金 (jīn) originally meant 'gold' and later came to represent all metals. 属 (shǔ) means 'to belong to' or 'category.' Together, 金属 literally means 'those that belong to the category of gold,' reflecting an ancient classification system that grouped all metallic substances under one term.
In modern usage, 金属 is commonly used in scientific, industrial, and everyday contexts. It is often paired with other words like 金属制品 (jīn shǔ zhì pǐn) for 'metal products' or 金属材料 (jīn shǔ cāi liào) for 'metallic materials.' Understanding 金属 is essential for studying chemistry, engineering, or manufacturing in Chinese.