Meaning and Usage
"水泥" (shuǐní) refers specifically to cement, a common building material made from a mixture of minerals and water. It is widely used in construction for making concrete and mortar.
Common Collocations
- 水泥路 (cement road): a road paved or repaired with cement.
- 水泥地 (cement floor): a floor made of cement.
- 水泥厂 (cement factory): a factory producing cement.
Usage Notes
When using "水泥," it often appears in contexts related to construction and building. It is a noun and does not function as a verb. Unlike "泥" (mud), which refers to natural wet earth, "水泥" is a manufactured material.
Common Confusions
Do not confuse "水泥" with "混凝土" (hùnníngtǔ), which means concrete — a mixture of cement, sand, gravel, and water. "水泥" is just the cement component.
Register and Tone
"水泥" is a neutral term used in both formal and informal contexts related to construction and engineering.