Usage note
沙子是细小的颗粒，常见于海滩和沙漠。
Shāzi shì xìxiǎo de kēlì, chángjiàn yú hǎitān hé shāmò.
Sand is tiny particles, commonly found on beaches and in deserts.
Context note
玩沙子是孩子们喜欢的活动，可以用沙子堆城堡。
Wán shāzi shì háizimen xǐhuān de huódòng, kěyǐ yòng shāzi duī chéngbǎo.
Playing with sand is a favorite activity for children; they can build castles with sand.
5 examples
我们在沙滩上玩沙子。
wǒ men zài shā tān shàng wán shā zi。
We play with sand on the beach.
沙子很细，从手里漏下去。
shā zi hěn xì， cóng shǒu lǐ lòu xià qù。
The sand is very fine and slips through the hand.
他用沙子堆了一个小房子。
tā yòng shā zi duī le yí gè xiǎo fáng zi。
He built a small house with sand.
风把沙子吹得到处都是。
fēng bǎ shā zi chuī dé dào chù dōu shì。
The wind blows sand everywhere.
沙子里有小贝壳。
shā zi lǐ yǒu xiǎo bèi ké。
There are small shells in the sand.
5 mini stories
小明在海边玩沙子。他堆了一个大城堡。
xiǎo míng zài hǎi biān wán shā zi。 tā duī le yí gè dài chéng bǎo。
Xiao Ming plays with sand at the beach. He builds a big castle.
小红用沙子做蛋糕。她请朋友来吃。
xiǎo hóng yòng shā zi zuò dàn gāo。 tā qǐng péng yǒu lái chī。
Xiao Hong makes a cake with sand. She invites friends to eat.
小刚在沙子里找宝藏。他找到了一颗漂亮的石头。
xiǎo gāng zài shā zi lǐ zhǎo bǎo zàng。 tā zhǎo dào le yì kē piào liang de shí tou。
Xiao Gang looks for treasure in the sand. He finds a beautiful stone.
小丽用沙子画画。她画了一朵花。
xiǎo lì yòng shā zi huà huà。 tā huà le yì duǒ huā。
Xiao Li draws with sand. She draws a flower.
小华把沙子装进桶里。他提去给妈妈看。
xiǎo huá bǎ shā zi zhuāng jìn tǒng lǐ。 tā tí qù gěi mā ma kàn。
Xiao Hua puts sand into a bucket. He carries it to show his mom.
Mini dialogue
沙滩玩耍
A
看，我用沙子做了一个城堡。
Kàn, wǒ yòng shāzi zuò le yī gè chéngbǎo.
Look, I made a castle with sand.
B
真漂亮！我也要玩沙子。
Zhēn piàoliang! Wǒ yě yào wán shāzi.
So beautiful! I want to play with sand too.
小心沙子
A
沙子进到鞋子里了。
Shāzi jìn dào xiézi lǐ le.
Sand got into my shoes.
B
快脱下来倒一倒。
Kuài tuō xiàlái dào yī dào.
Quickly take them off and shake them out.
Related words and contrasts
related
沙滩
shātān
sandy beach
A place with lots of sand by the sea.
contrast
石头
shítou
stone, rock
Bigger and harder than sand.