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玻璃

bōli
noun HSK 5 #2,191

Measure Word

一块玻璃 kuài

Meanings

  1. 1 glass (material)
  2. 2 glass; pane of glass

Characters

玻
bō
bound character; transliteration syllable for 'glass'
璃
lí
bound character; transliteration syllable for 'glass'
Both characters have the 王 (jade) radical, reflecting that glass was once as precious as jade. Neither character is used independently.

Examples

HSK 5
小心，别把玻璃打碎了。
Xiǎoxīn, bié bǎ bōli dǎsuì le.
Be careful, don't break the glass.
HSK 5
这扇窗户的玻璃很厚。
Zhè shàn chuānghù de bōli hěn hòu.
The glass in this window is very thick.
HSK 6
他戴着一副玻璃眼镜。
Tā dài zhe yí fù bōli yǎnjìng.
He wears a pair of glass-lens spectacles.

Tips

usage
玻璃 is a loanword from Sanskrit (sphaṭika). 玻璃心 (bōli xīn, 'glass heart') is popular internet slang for someone who is overly sensitive and easily hurt.
grammar
The second syllable is neutral tone: bō li (not bō lí).

Stroke Order

玻 bō
璃 lí