semi-finished product; raw material; person with potential
Meanings
3 senses · 8 examplesnoun
unfired clay piece; blank (for bricks, pottery, etc.)
Refers to the semi-finished, molded form before firing or final processing.
The brick blanks need to be dried before they can be fired in the kiln.
These pottery blanks are waiting to be glazed.
noun
unprocessed raw material; base (for making sauce, thread, etc.)
Often used with a preceding word specifying the type of material, like '酱坯子' or '线坯子'.
The soybean paste base needs to ferment in a vat for several months.
These thread blanks will be spun into fine yarn.
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This is still just a piece of raw fabric material.
noun
a person (especially a young person) with potential to become something in the future; promising material
informalUsed metaphorically to describe a young person with potential or aptitude, often followed by '是个好坯子', '坏坯子'. Can be positive or negative depending on context.
This kid is nimble, good material for an athlete.
His apprentices are all promising material—honest and hardworking.
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Don't hang out with that bunch of bad eggs.