unknown, 12 strokes, radical 气, rank #14344, Very Hard
dàn(dan4) T4
1nitrogen
2nitrogen (chemistry)
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March 24, 2026
氮dàn(dan4)
氮 (dàn) refers to nitrogen, a chemical element that is essential for life and a key component of the Earth's atmosphere. It is commonly used in scientific and environmental contexts, particularly in chemistry, biology, and agriculture where nitrogen plays a crucial role in plant growth and development.
Strokes12Radical气Frequency#14344DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese agriculture, nitrogen is crucial for fertilization, and the use of nitrogen-rich fertilizers is a common practice among farmers to enhance crop yield. This highlights the importance of nitrogen in food production and sustainability.
Memory Tip
Think of the character 氮 as resembling a cloud (氵) with 'dan' (a sound like 'dahn') floating in it, representing nitrogen's gaseous form in the atmosphere. Imagine a scientist in a lab wearing a lab coat, surrounded by nitrogen gas, working on experiments that require this vital element.
Meanings of 氮
dàn(dan4)
1nitrogen
2nitrogen (chemistry)
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 氮 means.
About 氮
氮Simplified
12Strokes
气Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 氮
Podcast: 氮
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AI Study Notes for 氮
Usage Notes
氮 is used primarily in scientific contexts, so it is more commonly found in formal registers. Learners might confuse it with similar-sounding words; pay attention to pronunciation and context. It often collocates with terms related to chemistry, like '氮气' (dànqì) for nitrogen gas.
HSK Study Tips
Although 氮 is not included in HSK vocabulary lists, its scientific context makes it relevant for advanced learners. Students should focus on related scientific vocabulary and concepts to build a comprehensive understanding of nitrogen's role in various fields.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 氮 with other elements that have similar pronunciations or radicals, such as '碳' (tàn) for carbon. Remember that 氮 specifically refers to nitrogen, while 碳 refers to carbon.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 氮
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Etymology of 氮
Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声å—)~80-90% of characters
Explanation
Phonosemantic compound. 气 represents the meaning and 炎 represents the sound.
氮 = 气 + 炎. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 氮
IDS Structure⿹气炎
氮Full Character
=
气qi4
enclosing
炎yan2
inner
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 氮?
How to say nitrogen in Chinese
“nitrogen” in Chinese is氮dàn
氮 (dàn) refers to nitrogen, a chemical element that is essential for life and a key component of the Earth's atmosphere. It is commonly used in scientific and environmental contexts, particularly in chemistry, biology, and agriculture where nitrogen plays a crucial role in plant growth and development.
When to use 氮
氮 is used primarily in scientific contexts, so it is more commonly found in formal registers. Learners might confuse it with similar-sounding words; pay attention to pronunciation and context. It often collocates with terms related to chemistry, like '氮气' (dànqì) for nitrogen gas.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 氮 with other elements that have similar pronunciations or radicals, such as '碳' (tàn) for carbon. Remember that 氮 specifically refers to nitrogen, while 碳 refers to carbon.
Write 氮
氮
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Practice writing 氮 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 氮
氮 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
S - 三____朵苯农药对农业生产变得越来越重要.
S - Triazine pesticides are rapidly becoming of increasing importance to agriculture.
Example Sentences for 氮 (6)
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1
S - 三氮朵苯农药对农业生产变得越来越重要.
S- S - sān dàn duǒ běn nóng yào duì nóng yè shēng chǎn biàn dé yuè lái yuè zhòng.
S - Triazine pesticides are rapidly becoming of increasing importance to agriculture.
