胶水

jiāoshuǐ: 胶水 - Glue, Adhesive

Quick Summary

  • Keywords: 胶水, jiāoshuǐ, glue in Chinese, Chinese word for glue, adhesive in Chinese, what is jiaoshui, how to say glue in Mandarin, HSK 3 vocabulary, Chinese stationery
  • Summary: Discover the meaning of 胶水 (jiāoshuǐ), the common Mandarin Chinese word for “glue” or “adhesive.” This guide breaks down the characters 胶 (jiāo) and 水 (shuǐ) to show how they literally mean “glue-water.” Learn how to use this essential HSK 3 noun in everyday situations, from buying stationery and doing crafts to understanding related concepts like tape (胶带) and glue sticks (胶棒). This entry provides practical example sentences and cultural context for beginner learners.

Core Meaning

  • Pinyin (with tone marks): jiāoshuǐ
  • Part of Speech: Noun
  • HSK Level: HSK 3
  • Concise Definition: A substance used for sticking objects or materials together; glue.
  • In a Nutshell: 胶水 (jiāoshuǐ) is the direct and most common way to say “glue” in Chinese. It's a compound word that literally translates to “glue-water,” which perfectly describes common liquid adhesives. You'll hear and use this word in any context where you'd say “glue” in English—at school, in an office, for home repairs, or when doing arts and crafts. It's a fundamental vocabulary word for everyday objects.

Character Breakdown

  • 胶 (jiāo): This character refers to sticky, gelatinous, or rubbery substances. The radical on the left, 月, is the “flesh” radical. This hints at the origin of traditional glue, which was often made from animal hides, bones, and tissues.
  • 水 (shuǐ): This is one of the most basic Chinese characters, a pictograph of flowing water. It simply means “water” or “liquid.”
  • Word Formation: The characters combine logically and transparently. 胶 (jiāo) provides the concept of “adhesion,” and 水 (shuǐ) describes its “liquid” form. Together, 胶水 (jiāoshuǐ) creates a clear and easy-to-remember word for liquid glue.

Cultural Context and Significance

  • The concept of 胶水 (jiāoshuǐ) as a utilitarian object is culturally universal. Just like in the West, it's a staple of classrooms, offices, and workshops in China. Its significance lies in its role in creation, mending, and education—from a child's first craft project to complex manufacturing.
  • While the literal meaning is identical to the English “glue,” the character 胶 (jiāo) is used in a figurative way that reflects a cultural value on strong bonds. The idiom 如胶似漆 (rú jiāo sì qī), meaning “like glue and lacquer,” is a poetic way to describe a couple that is inseparable and deeply in love. This is similar to the English phrase “joined at the hip” but carries a more classical, literary weight. This highlights how a simple, physical concept (stickiness) can be elevated to describe the valued ideal of a permanent, binding relationship.

Practical Usage in Modern China

  • 胶水 (jiāoshuǐ) is a high-frequency, practical word used in neutral, everyday contexts. Its usage is almost always literal.
  • Shopping: When you go to a stationery store (文具店, wénjùdiàn), you would ask for 胶水 for general-purpose liquid glue, or more specifically a 胶棒 (jiāobàng) for a glue stick.
  • Education and Crafts: Teachers and parents use this word constantly when instructing children on art projects. “用胶水把图片粘上” (Yòng jiāoshuǐ bǎ túpiàn zhān shàng) - “Use glue to stick the picture on.”
  • Repairs: For simple home repairs, you might use 胶水 to fix a broken object. For more serious jobs, you'd likely specify a stronger type, like 万能胶 (wànnéngjiāo), or “superglue.”
  • Formality: The term is neutral and can be used in both formal and informal settings without any change.

Example Sentences

  • Example 1:
    • 我需要一些胶水来粘这个盒子。
    • Pinyin: Wǒ xūyào yīxiē jiāoshuǐ lái zhān zhège hézi.
    • English: I need some glue to stick this box together.
    • Analysis: A standard, common sentence demonstrating the basic use of 胶水 with the verb 粘 (zhān), “to stick.”
  • Example 2:
    • 你的手怎么这么黏？是不是碰到胶水了？
    • Pinyin: Nǐ de shǒu zěnme zhème nián? Shì bùshì pèng dào jiāoshuǐ le?
    • English: Why are your hands so sticky? Did you touch some glue?
    • Analysis: This example shows a common real-life scenario related to using glue. 黏 (nián) means “sticky.”
  • Example 3:
    • 请问，你们卖胶水吗？
    • Pinyin: Qǐngwèn, nǐmen mài jiāoshuǐ ma?
    • English: Excuse me, do you sell glue?
    • Analysis: A simple and polite way to ask for glue in a store.
  • Example 4:
    • 小心，别把胶水弄到衣服上。
    • Pinyin: Xiǎoxīn, bié bǎ jiāoshuǐ nòng dào yīfú shàng.
    • English: Be careful, don't get glue on your clothes.
    • Analysis: A common warning given to children (or clumsy adults!) during craft time.
  • Example 5:
    • 这种胶水干得很快。
    • Pinyin: Zhè zhǒng jiāoshuǐ gān de hěn kuài.
    • English: This kind of glue dries very quickly.
    • Analysis: This sentence uses a measure word for types/kinds, 种 (zhǒng), and the verb 干 (gān), “to dry.”
  • Example 6:
    • 我更喜欢用胶棒，而不是液体胶水。
    • Pinyin: Wǒ gèng xǐhuān yòng jiāobàng, ér bùshì yètǐ jiāoshuǐ.
    • English: I prefer using a glue stick rather than liquid glue.
    • Analysis: This sentence introduces a related term, 胶棒 (jiāobàng), and helps differentiate it from liquid glue (液体胶水, yètǐ jiāoshuǐ).
  • Example 7:
    • 这个模型是用特殊的胶水粘合的。
    • Pinyin: Zhège móxíng shì yòng tèshū de jiāoshuǐ zhānhé de.
    • English: This model is bonded together with a special kind of glue.
    • Analysis: Shows a more advanced use, referring to a “special” (特殊, tèshū) type of glue for a specific purpose like model-making.
  • Example 8:
    • 胶水还没干，你先别动它。
    • Pinyin: Jiāoshuǐ hái méi gān, nǐ xiān bié dòng tā.
    • English: The glue isn't dry yet, don't move it for now.
    • Analysis: A practical instruction. “还没…呢” (hái méi…ne) is a common pattern for “not yet.”
  • Example 9:
    • 你能借我一点胶水吗？我的用完了。
    • Pinyin: Nǐ néng jiè wǒ yīdiǎn jiāoshuǐ ma? Wǒ de yòng wán le.
    • English: Can you lend me a little bit of glue? I've run out.
    • Analysis: Demonstrates a common request in a classroom or office setting.
  • Example 10:
    • 信封的封口需要用胶水粘住。
    • Pinyin: Xìnfēng de fēngkǒu xūyào yòng jiāoshuǐ zhān zhù.
    • English: The flap of the envelope needs to be sealed with glue.
    • Analysis: A specific and practical application of glue. 粘住 (zhān zhù) is a resultative complement, meaning “to stick fast.”

Nuances and Common Mistakes

  • Mistake 1: Confusing Glue, Tape, and Glue Sticks.
    • English speakers might use “glue” as a general term for adhesives, but in Chinese, you need to be specific.
    • 胶水 (jiāoshuǐ): Liquid glue.
    • 胶棒 (jiāobàng): Glue stick (lit. “glue rod”).
    • 胶带 (jiāodài): Adhesive tape (lit. “glue belt/band”).
    • Incorrect: 我可以用你的胶水把这个海报贴在墙上吗？ (Wǒ kěyǐ yòng nǐ de jiāoshuǐ bǎ zhège hǎibào tiē zài qiáng shàng ma?) - “Can I use your glue to put this poster on the wall?”
    • Correction: While not technically wrong, it's much more natural to use tape for a poster. The better word would be 胶带 (jiāodài).
  • Mistake 2: Using 胶水 in a Figurative Way.
    • While the character 胶 appears in idioms about “sticky” relationships like 如胶似漆 (rú jiāo sì qī), the full word 胶水 (jiāoshuǐ) is almost never used this way. It sounds very literal and awkward.
    • Incorrect: 我们的友谊像胶水一样。 (Wǒmen de yǒuyì xiàng jiāoshuǐ yīyàng.) - “Our friendship is like glue.”
    • Correction: This sounds very unnatural. To express a strong bond, you would use a proper idiom or a different description, such as 我们的关系很铁 (Wǒmen de guānxì hěn tiě) - “Our relationship is solid as iron.”

Related Terms and Concepts

  • 胶棒 (jiāobàng) - Glue stick. A solid, tube-based glue common in schools and offices.
  • 胶带 (jiāodài) - Adhesive tape. The common word for Scotch tape, packing tape, etc.
  • 万能胶 (wànnéngjiāo) - Superglue or all-purpose glue. A much stronger adhesive (lit. “10,000-purpose glue”).
  • 粘贴 (zhāntiē) - To paste; to stick. This is the primary verb you use with glue.
  • 文具 (wénjù) - Stationery. The category of goods that 胶水 belongs to.
  • 如胶似漆 (rú jiāo sì qī) - An idiom meaning “like glue and lacquer”; describes people (usually a couple) who are inseparable.
  • 橡胶 (xiàngjiāo) - Rubber. Another common word that uses the character 胶.
  • 黏 (nián) - The adjective for “sticky” or “tacky.”