lump

JLPT N5 7 strokes

Words with this Kanji

Basic Meaning and Usage

The word "" (kuài) primarily means a lump, chunk, or piece of something solid. It is commonly used to describe tangible objects like pieces of cake, chunks of stone, or other solid items. It is a very frequent measure word in Chinese, often used to count pieces of food, money, or other discrete chunks.

Usage as a Measure Word for Currency

Besides its literal meaning, "" is also the colloquial measure word for the Chinese currency unit yuan (). When talking about money in everyday conversation, people often say "" instead of "". For example, "" means "one hundred yuan". This usage is informal but extremely common.

Common Collocations

  • 蛋糕 (a piece of cake): used when talking about food portions.
  • 石头 (a chunk of stone): describing solid objects.
  • (one hundred yuan): informal way to say money.

Notes

When using "" as a measure word for money, it replaces the formal "" in casual speech. Avoid confusing it with "" (kuài) which is a homophone but a different character with other meanings. In written formal contexts, "" is preferred for currency.

Example Sentences

I bought a piece of cake, and everyone ate together.

This chunk of stone is very heavy and can't be moved.

This piece of clothing costs one hundred yuan.