Meaning
地壳 refers to the outermost solid layer of the Earth, consisting of rocks and minerals. It is the thinnest of Earth's major layers and is where all landforms, oceans, and human activity exist. This term is commonly used in geology, earth sciences, and geography.
Usage
This is a technical scientific term used primarily in academic contexts, textbooks, and scientific discussions. It appears frequently in geology lessons and earth science materials. The term is typically used when discussing plate tectonics, earthquakes, volcanoes, and the composition of the Earth.
Examples
- 01地壳运动引起了地震和火山爆发。.Crustal movement causes earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
- 02地壳是地球最外层的固体部分。.The Earth's crust is the outermost solid part of the Earth.
Characters
Measure words
- 层一层地壳
Common collocations
- 地壳运动crustal movement
- 地壳变动crustal deformation
- 大陆地壳continental crust
- 海洋地壳oceanic crust
Origin
The word combines 地 (earth/ground) with 壳 (shell/crust), literally meaning 'earth's shell.' This is a direct calque of the scientific concept borrowed during the modernization of Chinese scientific terminology in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.