Meaning
岩石 refers to naturally occurring solid mineral material that forms the Earth's crust. It encompasses all types of geological rock formations, from small stones to massive cliffs and mountains. The term is more formal and scientific than casual words for stone.
Usage
岩石 is commonly used in geological, scientific, and geographical contexts. In everyday conversation, people might use simpler words like 石头 for small rocks or stones. 岩石 appears frequently in academic writing, nature documentaries, and descriptions of natural landscapes and geological features.
Examples
- 01这座山的岩石非常坚硬。.The rock of this mountain is very hard.
- 02地质学家正在研究这些古老的岩石。.Geologists are studying these ancient rocks.
Characters
Measure words
- 块一块岩石
- 层一层岩石
Common collocations
- 岩石层rock layer, stratum
- 火成岩石igneous rock
- 坚硬的岩石hard rock
- 岩石结构rock structure
Origin
Both characters relate to stone and rock formations. 岩 originally depicted a cliff or rocky mountain, while 石 is one of the most ancient Chinese characters representing stone. Together they form a compound emphasizing natural rock formations.