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Chinese vocabulary · Beginner
How do you say "sponge" in Chinese?
海绵
hǎi mián
In Chinese, "sponge" is 海绵 (hǎi mián).
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Pronunciation
Aim for "hǎi mián" when you say it, "hǎi" is dipping down and curling back up (tone 3), then "mián" is rising sharply like a question (tone 2).
Writing and usage
海绵 is written using hanzi. It's a noun, part of the vocabulary taught in the Noun Town language learning game.
Example sentence
他用海绵擦拭柜台。
tā yòng hǎi mián cā shì guì tái 。
He wiped the counter with a sponge.
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How to remember 海绵
Break "海绵" (hǎi mián) into "hǎi mián" and repeat it slowly a few times until the rhythm sticks in your ear.
Related words
Browse all Chinese words in the glossary.
Questions about 海绵
How do you pronounce 海绵?
Aim for "hǎi mián" when you say it, "hǎi" is dipping down and curling back up (tone 3), then "mián" is rising sharply like a question (tone 2).
Is 海绵 formal or casual?
海绵 is a neutral, everyday word that works in both casual and polite speech.
How is 海绵 used in Chinese?
海绵 is used the same way as the equivalent English noun. For example: 他用海绵擦拭柜台。 (He wiped the counter with a sponge.).
Where can I practice Chinese words for free?
You can play free Chinese minigames in your browser on the Noun Town online games page, no sign-up required. Every word in the Chinese glossary also has native audio and an example sentence you can revisit any time.
"Sponge" in other languages
Curated by Callan Ratcliffe
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