海绵

• Pinyin: hǎi mián
• Hanzi breakdown: 海 = 氵(water) + 每; 绵 = 纟(thread) + 帛 (silk cloth) — soft continuous material

Meaning

Sponge — a porous material that absorbs liquid, either natural (marine animal) or synthetic.

Refers both to actual sponges used for cleaning and to sponge-like materials in construction, packaging, or furniture. Metaphorically describes highly absorbent learners or urban drainage systems (海绵城市 — sponge city, a flood-resilient urban design concept).

Examples

1. 他用湿海绵仔细地擦去桌面上的油渍，反复擦拭了好几遍。 He carefully wiped the grease stains off the tabletop with a damp sponge, going over it several times.
2. 政府大力推行海绵城市建设计划，以缓解城市内涝问题。 The government is vigorously promoting the “sponge city” initiative to ease urban flooding.
3. 她学语言的速度极快，简直就像一块吸水的海绵，过目不忘。 She picks up languages incredibly fast—like a sponge soaking up water—and remembers things after seeing them just once.

Usage Guide

Context: household, urban planning, metaphor

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 工人们在墙体中填充了一层厚实的海绵材料，有效提升了隔音效果。(Workers filled the walls with a thick layer of sponge material, significantly improving soundproofing.)
• 这座城市被规划为海绵城市，旨在通过透水路面和绿地吸收雨水。(This city has been planned as a sponge city, aimed at absorbing rainwater through permeable surfaces and green spaces.)

Don't Say

• 用海绵形容情感冷漠的人 — 海绵 as a metaphor is positive (absorbent, receptive); for emotional numbness use 冷漠 or 麻木

Origin & History

海 (sea) + 绵 (soft, continuous) — sea creature with soft fibrous body

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal