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硷 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
硷jiǎnalkaline, alkali, lye, saltzg, 12 strokes, radical 石, rank #22523, Very Hard
jiǎn(jian3) T3
  1. 1alkaline, alkali, lye, salt
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March 24, 2026

硷(礆)jiǎn(jian3)

The character 硷 (jiǎn) refers to alkaline substances, which are typically compounds that can neutralize acids. It is commonly used in chemistry and can also denote substances like lye or salt. Understanding this term is essential when discussing chemical properties and reactions in both academic and practical contexts.

Strokes12Radical石Frequency#22523DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese medicine, alkaline substances play a role in balancing bodily fluids, aligning with the philosophy of yin and yang. Understanding how this character fits within the context of health and wellness can provide deeper insight into its significance.

Memory Tip

Think of 硷 (jiǎn) as a 'salt' that 'jumps' high when it neutralizes acids. The left side, 石 (shí), means 'stone,' suggesting something solid, while the right side, the phonetic component, hints at the sound 'jiǎn.' Visualize jumping stones in a lab reacting with acid for a memorable connection.

Meanings of 硷

jiǎn(jian3)
1alkaline, alkali, lye, salt
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 硷

硷Simplified
礆Traditional
12Strokes
石Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 硷

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Podcast: 硷

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AI Study Notes for 硷

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 硷 with its variant characters like 鹼 (jiǎn) or 碱 (jiǎn), which also mean alkali. This character is more commonly used in scientific contexts, so avoid using it in casual conversation. Remember that the tone is 'third tone,' which can be easily mistaken for the second tone.

HSK Study Tips

While 硷 is not included in the HSK levels, it connects to other chemistry-related vocabulary that may appear in advanced studies. Students should focus on recognizing its use in scientific texts and practice pronunciation to reinforce its unique tone.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 硷 with 鹼 or 碱, leading to incorrect usage in sentences like '我需要硷来中和酸' (I need alkali to neutralize acid) when 鹼 is more appropriate. Always check the context to choose the correct variant.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 硷

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Etymology of 硷

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 石 represents the meaning and 佥 represents the sound. Simplified form of 礆.

Memory Hint

mineral

Semantic (meaning)石
+
Phonetic (sound)佥
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

硷 = 石 + 佥. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 硷

IDS Structure⿰石佥
硷Full Character
=
石dan4
left
佥qian1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 硷?

How to say alkaline, alkali, lye, salt in Chinese

“alkaline, alkali, lye, salt” in Chinese is硷jiǎn

The character 硷 (jiǎn) refers to alkaline substances, which are typically compounds that can neutralize acids. It is commonly used in chemistry and can also denote substances like lye or salt. Understanding this term is essential when discussing chemical properties and reactions in both academic and practical contexts.

When to use 硷

Be careful not to confuse 硷 with its variant characters like 鹼 (jiǎn) or 碱 (jiǎn), which also mean alkali. This character is more commonly used in scientific contexts, so avoid using it in casual conversation. Remember that the tone is 'third tone,' which can be easily mistaken for the second tone.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 硷 with 鹼 or 碱, leading to incorrect usage in sentences like '我需要硷来中和酸' (I need alkali to neutralize acid) when 鹼 is more appropriate. Always check the context to choose the correct variant.

Write 硷

硷

Practice writing 硷 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Word Family of 硷

Words Containing This Character1
硷jiǎnbase礆

Frequently Asked Questions about 硷

Both characters refer to alkaline substances, but 碱 (jiǎn) is more commonly used in general contexts, while 硷 (jiǎn) is typically found in scientific discussions.

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