kuài: 块 - Piece, Lump, Block; (Measure Word for money)
Quick Summary
Keywords: kuai, 块, Chinese measure word, measure word for money, Chinese currency, RMB, yuan, Chinese money, piece in Chinese, block in Chinese, lump, Chinese grammar, HSK 1
Summary: Learn the essential Chinese word 块 (kuài), one of the most versatile and important words for beginners. This guide explains how 块 (kuài) is used as the common measure word for “piece” or “block” (like a piece of cake) and, most importantly, as the everyday spoken word for China's currency, the yuan (RMB), similar to saying “buck” for “dollar”.
Core Meaning
Pinyin (with tone marks): kuài
Part of Speech: Measure Word, Noun
HSK Level: HSK 1
Concise Definition: A piece, lump, or block of something; a colloquial unit of currency.
In a Nutshell: Think of 块 (kuài) as the word for a “chunk” of something solid. It can be a block of tofu, a bar of soap, or a piece of land. However, its most frequent and vital use is in daily conversation for money. While the formal name for Chinese currency is `元 (yuán)`, everyone on the street says 块 (kuài). If something costs 10 yuan, you'll hear it called “十块 (shí kuài)”.
Character Breakdown
块 (kuài): This character is a phono-semantic compound, meaning one part gives the meaning and the other gives the sound.
土 (tǔ): This is the “earth” or “soil” radical. It provides the meaning, suggesting something solid, earthy, or a clump of dirt. It grounds the character in the physical world of solid objects.
夬 (guài): This component primarily provides the phonetic sound for the character.
Together, the “earth” radical gives you the core idea of a solid “lump” or “block,” which is the fundamental meaning of 块.
Cultural Context and Significance
The most significant cultural aspect of 块 (kuài) is its role in currency. In China, there is often a distinction between the formal, written language (`书面语 shūmiànyǔ`) and the informal, spoken language (`口语 kǒuyǔ`). The currency is a perfect example.
`元 (yuán)` vs. `块 (kuài)`: This is directly comparable to the American English “dollar” vs. “buck” or the British “pound” vs. “quid”.
`元 (yuán)` is what you see written on price tags, in bank contracts, on banknotes, and in formal news reports. It is the official name of the currency unit.
`块 (kuài)` is what you hear and say in 99% of daily transactions. When you ask a street vendor “How much?” they will reply in `kuài`. Using `元` in a casual conversation would sound overly formal and unnatural, much like saying “This coffee costs five United States dollars.” The universal use of `块` in spoken Mandarin is a key cultural nuance for any learner to master for sounding authentic.
Practical Usage in Modern China
As a Measure Word for Objects:块 is the go-to measure word for things that come in chunks, pieces, or blocks.
Food: a piece of cake (`一块蛋糕`), a piece of chocolate (`一块巧克力`), a block of tofu (`一块豆腐`), a lump of sugar (`一块糖`).
Objects: a bar of soap (`一块香皂`), a piece of land (`一块地`), a rock or stone (`一块石头`), a watch (`一块手表`).
As the Colloquial Term for Money: This is its most common function. It is used for any and all prices in spoken conversation.
Shopping: “这个多少钱？” (How much is this?) “八十五块。” (85 kuài.)
Restaurants: “买单！一共一百二十块。” (Check, please! It's 120 kuài in total.)
Transportation: “打车去机场大概要六十块。” (A taxi to the airport costs about 60 kuài.)
Meaning “Together” (with 一): The phrase 一块儿 (yīkuàir) is extremely common and means “together”.
“我们一块儿去吃饭吧！” (Let's go eat together!)
Example Sentences
Example 1: (Money)
这件T恤只要五十块。
Pinyin: Zhè jiàn T-xù zhǐ yào wǔshí kuài.
English: This T-shirt only costs 50 kuài.
Analysis: A classic example of using 块 for price in a casual shopping context. You would almost never hear a clerk say “五十元 (wǔshí yuán)”.
Example 2: (Food)
我想吃一块巧克力蛋糕。
Pinyin: Wǒ xiǎng chī yī kuài qiǎokèlì dàngāo.
English: I'd like to eat a piece of chocolate cake.
Analysis: Here, 块 is the measure word for a slice or piece of cake. It implies a solid, chunky piece.
Why it's wrong: While grammatically correct, it's socially awkward and overly formal. It sounds like you're reading a price tag out loud.
Correct: `这杯咖啡三十块。` (Zhè bēi kāfēi sānshí kuài.)
Mistake 2: Confusing `块 (kuài)` with `片 (piàn)`.
These are both measure words for “piece,” but they describe different shapes. This is a common point of confusion.
`块 (kuài)` is for thick, chunky, three-dimensional pieces: a block of ice (`一块冰`), a lump of sugar (`一块糖`).
`片 (piàn)` is for thin, flat slices: a slice of bread (`一片面包`), a slice of lemon (`一片柠檬`), a business card (`一片名片`).
Example: `一块面包` would imply a chunk torn from a loaf, whereas `一片面包` is a standard, flat slice.
Mistake 3: Using `个 (gè)` instead of `块 (kuài)`.
`个 (gè)` is the general-purpose measure word, but it's not always interchangeable.
`一个蛋糕 (yī gè dàngāo)` means “one whole cake”.
`一块蛋糕 (yī kuài dàngāo)` means “one piece/slice of cake”.
Using the wrong one will lead to misunderstanding how much you actually want.
Related Terms and Concepts
元 (yuán) - The formal, official, and written unit of Chinese currency. 块 is the spoken equivalent.
毛 (máo) - The colloquial term for `角 (jiǎo)`, which is one-tenth of a 块. If something is 5.50 kuài, you say “五块五毛 (wǔ kuài wǔ máo)”.
片 (piàn) - The measure word for thin, flat slices. The direct counterpart to 块 for describing shape.
块儿 (kuàir) - A colloquial, often northern, pronunciation of 块, especially common in the phrase `一块儿 (yīkuàir)`, meaning “together”.
条 (tiáo) - A measure word for long, thin, flexible objects, like a rope (`一条绳子`) or a fish (`一条鱼`). Sometimes overlaps with 块 for things like a chocolate bar.
个 (gè) - The most common and general measure word in Chinese. It's important to know when to use a more specific measure word like 块 instead.