HSK 5

English Meaning

Categories

📚 Example Sentences

这块布是蓝色的。
Zhè kuài bù shì lánsè de.
This piece of cloth is blue.
她用布做了一件衣服。
Tā yòng bù zuò le yī jiàn yīfu.
She made a piece of clothing with cloth.
桌子上铺着一块布。
Zhuōzi shàng pūzhe yī kuài bù.
There is a piece of cloth spread on the table.
这块布很柔软。
Zhè kuài bù hěn róuruǎn.
This cloth is very soft.
妈妈买了新布。
Māma mǎi le xīn bù.
Mom bought new fabric.

💡 Memory Tip

Think of 布 as the '布' in '桌布' (tablecloth) – imagine spreading a cloth (布) on a table to protect it, linking the word to everyday fabric items. The character looks like a hand (扌) holding fabric, though it's actually derived from a pictograph of cloth draped over something.

📝 Usage Notes

布 is used in both formal and informal contexts, in spoken and written Chinese. It commonly appears in everyday situations related to textiles, household items, or clothing, and can be part of compound words (e.g., 桌布 for tablecloth). It is neutral and widely understood.

📖 Grammar Points

布 is primarily used as a noun, often as the first element in compound nouns (e.g., 布+鞋 = cloth shoes). It can also function in verb phrases like 布置 (bùzhì, to arrange or decorate), though this is a separate lexical item.

🏯 Cultural Notes

In traditional Chinese culture, cloth like cotton or linen has been essential for daily life, clothing, and crafts. Historically, 布 was a common material in households, and terms like 布衣 (bùyī) refer to ordinary people (literally 'cloth-clad'), symbolizing simplicity or non-aristocratic status.

🔄 Similar Words

Compared to 衣 (yī, meaning clothing or garments), 布 refers specifically to the fabric material itself, not the finished garment. Unlike 丝绸 (sīchóu, silk) or 皮革 (pígé, leather), which denote specific types of materials, 布 is a general term for cloth.

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