tou2 joeng6土壤
Jyutpingtou2 joeng6
Yaletóu yeuhng
Definition
Soil, or figuratively, a breeding ground or nurturing environment for something to develop.
- soil; dirt where plants can grow
- figurativea breeding ground or nurturing environment that allows things to develop
neutralnature
How it's used
While 土壤 is the standard term for soil, it carries a slightly more formal or scientific tone compared to the everyday word 泥. You will often encounter it in contexts involving agriculture, environmental science, or when using it metaphorically to describe a social or cultural environment that fosters growth.
Measure word
pin2片pínExamples
The soil here is very suitable for growing flowers.
This place is a breeding ground for artistic development.
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using 土壤 in casual conversation when you simply mean dirt or mud on your shoes, as that would sound overly academic; use 泥 instead.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
