Meaning
陶器 refers to pottery or earthenware objects made from clay and fired at relatively low temperatures. It encompasses a wide range of ceramic items including bowls, vases, jars, and decorative pieces that have been central to Chinese civilization for thousands of years.
Usage
陶器 is commonly used in contexts involving archaeology, art history, traditional crafts, and museum collections. It contrasts with 瓷器 (cí qì, porcelain), which is fired at higher temperatures and is generally more refined. When discussing ancient Chinese artifacts or traditional handicrafts, 陶器 is the standard term for pottery.
Examples
- 01这个博物馆收藏了许多新石器时代的陶器。.This museum houses many pottery pieces from the Neolithic period.
- 02她在工作坊学习制作陶器。.She is learning to make pottery at the workshop.
Characters
Measure words
- 件一件陶器
- 个一个陶器
Common collocations
- 陶器制品pottery products
- 古代陶器ancient pottery
- 制作陶器to make pottery
- 陶器文物pottery artifacts
Origin
陶 originally referred to the process of making pottery and comes from the pictograph of a potter's wheel. 器 means vessel or implement. Together they form the compound meaning pottery vessels.