How common it is
性质 appears often in everyday Chinese, so it is worth practicing early and reviewing often.
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Pronunciation focus
Say xìng zhì slowly first, then repeat it in a short phrase. Listen for the tone shape.
Usage note
性质用来描述事物本身的特点或类别。
Xìngzhì yòng lái miáoshù shìwù běnshēn de tèdiǎn huò lèibié.
Nature is used to describe the characteristics or category of a thing itself.
Context note
在科学课上，老师会问水的性质是什么。
Zài kēxué kè shàng, lǎoshī huì wèn shuǐ de xìngzhì shì shénme.
In science class, the teacher will ask what the nature of water is.
5 examples
这块石头的性质很坚硬。
zhè kuài shí tou de xìng zhì hěn jiān yìng。
The nature of this stone is very hard.
水的性质是透明的。
shuǐ de xìng zhì shì tòu míng de。
The nature of water is transparent.
这种水果的性质很甜。
zhè zhǒng shuǐ guǒ de xìng zhì hěn tián。
The nature of this fruit is very sweet.
老师解释了磁铁的性质。
lǎo shī jiě shì le cí tiě de xìng zhì。
The teacher explained the nature of magnets.
我们要了解每种材料的性质。
wǒ men yào liǎo jiě měi zhǒng cái liào de xìng zhì。
We need to understand the nature of each material.
5 mini stories
小明发现冰的性质是冷的。他用手摸了摸冰块。
xiǎo míng fā xiàn bīng de xìng zhì shì lěng de。 tā yòng shǒu mō le mō bīng kuài。
Xiao Ming discovered that the nature of ice is cold. He touched the ice cube with his hand.
老师让我们观察沙子的性质。沙子很细很软。
lǎo shī ràng wǒ men guān chá shā zi de xìng zhì。 shā zi hěn xì hěn ruǎn。
The teacher asked us to observe the nature of sand. The sand is very fine and soft.
小华说铁的性质很重。他拿不起大铁块。
xiǎo huá shuō tiě de xìng zhì hěn zhòng。 tā ná bù qǐ dà tiě kuài。
Xiao Hua said the nature of iron is very heavy. He couldn't lift the big iron block.
我们讨论纸的性质。纸很容易撕破。
wǒ men tǎo lùn zhǐ de xìng zhì。 zhǐ hěn róng yì sī pò。
We discussed the nature of paper. Paper is very easy to tear.
妈妈告诉我蜂蜜的性质很甜。我尝了一小勺。
mā ma gào sù wǒ fēng mì de xìng zhì hěn tián。 wǒ cháng le yì xiǎo sháo。
Mom told me the nature of honey is very sweet. I tasted a small spoonful.