贝壳

• Pinyin: bèi ké
• Desglose de hanzi: 贝 = simplified from 貝 (shell pictograph); 壳 = 士 + 冖 + 几 (outer shell)

Significado

Concha; concha marina.

The calcium carbonate shells of marine mollusks like clams, oysters, and snails. Collected for decoration, jewelry, and historically used as currency (hence 贝 appears in many money-related characters). Also refers to shells of land snails.

Ejemplos

1. 海滩上散落着各种形状的贝壳，孩子们捡得不亦乐乎。
2. 古代中国曾经用贝壳当作货币使用。
3. 她收藏了一盒子贝壳，都是从世界各地海边捡来的。

Guía de uso

Contexto: nature, beach, collecting

Tono: casual

Correcto

• 这个贝壳真漂亮。(This shell is really beautiful.)
• 我在海边捡了好多贝壳。(I picked up lots of shells at the beach.)

Incorrecto

• 把螃蟹壳叫'贝壳' (Don't call crab shells 贝壳 — use 蟹壳; 贝壳 refers specifically to mollusk shells)

Origen e historia

贝 (shell/cowrie) + 壳 (shell/covering). Double emphasis on the shell.

Contexto cultural

Generación: All ages

Contexto social: Universal