hǎimián

海绵

HSK 7-9Word · NounTraditional海綿

marine sponge; porous absorbent material

Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma

Meanings

3 senses · 9 examples
1.

noun

marine sponge; porifera

neutral

Refers to the aquatic animal phylum Porifera. Often lives attached to rocks on the seabed.

Qián潜
shuǐ水
yuán员
zài在
shān珊
hú瑚
jiāo礁
páng旁
fā发
xiàn现
le了
yī一
kuài块
měi美
lì丽
de的
hǎi海
mián绵
 。

The diver discovered a beautiful sponge near the coral reef.

Hǎi海
mián绵
shì是
zuì最
jiǎn简
dān单
de的
duō多
xì细
bāo胞
dòng动
wù物
zhī之
yī一
 。

Sponges are among the simplest multicellular animals.

Show 1 more example
Zhè这
zhǒng种
hǎi海
mián绵
cóng从
hǎi海
shuǐ水
zhōng中
guò过
lǜ滤
shí食
wù物
kē颗
lì粒
 。

This type of sponge filters food particles from seawater.

2.

noun

sponge skeleton (keratinous)

Specifically refers to the dried, fibrous skeleton of certain marine sponges, historically used for bathing or cleaning.

Gǔ古
Luó罗
mǎ马
rén人
yòng用
tiān天
rán然
hǎi海
mián绵
de的
gǔ骨
gé骼
lái来
xǐ洗
zǎo澡
 。

The ancient Romans used the skeletons of natural sponges for bathing.

Zhè这
kuài块
gān干
hǎi海
mián绵
gǔ骨
gé骼
fēi非
cháng常
róu柔
ruǎn软
xī吸
shuǐ水
 。

This dried sponge skeleton is very soft and absorbent.

3.

noun

sponge (porous material); foam

neutral

Refers to synthetic porous materials (e.g., polyurethane foam) used for cleaning, cushioning, or sports equipment due to their elasticity and absorbency.

Tā她
yòng用
hǎi海
mián绵
cā擦
xǐ洗
chú厨
fáng房
de的
tái台
miàn面
 。

She used a sponge to scrub the kitchen countertop.

Zhè这
zhāng张
chuáng床
diàn垫
shì是
hǎi海
mián绵
zuò做
de的
 ,
shuì睡
qǐ起
lái来
hěn很
shū舒
fu服
 。

This mattress is made of foam and is very comfortable to sleep on.

Show 2 more examples
Tā他
mǎi买
le了
yī一
gè个
xīn新
de的
hǎi海
mián绵
qiú球
pāi拍
 。

He bought a new sponge-padded table tennis paddle.

Hǎi海
mián绵
néng能
xī吸
shōu收
dà大
liàng量
de的
shuǐ水
 。

A sponge can absorb a large amount of water.