土

• Pinyin: tǔ
• Hanzi breakdown: 土 = pictograph of a mound of earth rising from the ground

Meaning

Soil; earth; land. The basic material of the ground.

Beyond its literal meaning of soil or earth, 土 can also mean 'local' or 'native' (as in 土话, local dialect) and colloquially 'unsophisticated' or 'rustic' (as in 太土了, too old-fashioned). It is one of the five elements in Chinese philosophy (金木水火土).

Examples

1. 花园里的土很肥沃，适合种菜。 The soil in the garden is very fertile, suitable for growing vegetables.
2. 这里的土是红色的，很特别。 The soil here is red, which is quite special.
3. 农民把土翻了一遍，准备种庄稼。 The farmer turned over the soil to prepare for planting crops.

Usage Guide

Context: agriculture, nature, everyday

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 这片土地很肥沃。(This land is very fertile.)
• 孩子们在院子里玩土。(The children are playing with dirt in the yard.)

Don't Say

• 你穿的衣服真土。(Be careful: 土 as slang means 'unfashionable' or 'tacky' — this can be offensive. Only use it jokingly with very close friends.)

Origin & History

A pictograph depicting a mound of earth on the ground. One of the oldest Chinese characters, representing the earth element in Chinese philosophy.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal