Meaning and Usage
The character "壳" (ké) primarily refers to a shell, casing, or husk—the hard outer covering of something. It is commonly used to describe natural shells like those of nuts, turtles, or eggs, as well as man-made protective covers such as phone cases.
Common Collocations
- 手机壳 (shǒujī ké): phone case, used to protect mobile phones from damage.
- 坚果壳 (jiānguǒ ké): nut shell, the hard outer layer of nuts.
- 乌龟壳 (wūguī ké): turtle shell, the protective outer covering of a turtle.
Usage Notes
When using 壳, it often implies a protective or enclosing function. It can be literal, referring to physical shells, or metaphorical, such as a protective casing. It is a noun and usually follows the noun it describes (e.g., 手机壳).
Common Confusion
壳 should not be confused with 皮 (pí), which means skin or peel but is generally softer or thinner. 壳 implies a harder, more rigid outer layer.
Register and Tone
壳 is neutral in tone and appropriate in both formal and informal contexts. It is a common word in everyday conversation when discussing objects with hard outer layers.