生石膏

shēngshígāo

noun

Meanings

1 raw gypsum
2 calcium sulfate dihydrate (CaSO₄·2H₂O)
3 unprocessed gypsum used to clear heat

Characters

raw / unprocessed

Examples

HSK 7-9

中医常用生石膏来清热泻火。

Zhōngyī chángyòng shēngshígāo lái qīngrè xièhuǒ.

Traditional Chinese medicine often uses raw gypsum to clear heat and reduce inflammation.

HSK 7-9

生石膏煅烧后变成熟石膏。

Shēngshígāo duànshāo hòu biànchéng shúshígāo.

After calcination, raw gypsum becomes plaster of Paris (cooked gypsum).

Tips

culture

生 (raw / uncooked) contrasts with 熟 (cooked / processed). 生石膏 is the unprocessed mineral CaSO₄·2H₂O; 熟石膏 (plaster of Paris) is the calcined form CaSO₄·½H₂O. The same 生/熟 distinction shows up across Chinese herbology - e.g. 生地 vs. 熟地 (raw vs. processed rehmannia root).

Stroke Order

生 shēng

石 shí

膏 gāo