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堿 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
堿jiǎnsaltyx, 12 strokes, radical 土
堿jiǎnbaseunknown, 12 strokes, radical 土
堿jiǎnsodaunknown, 12 strokes, radical 土
jiǎn(jian3)jian T3
  1. 1salty
  2. 2base
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March 24, 2026

堿jiǎn(jian3)

The character 堿 (jiǎn) refers to a chemical base or soda, often associated with alkaline substances. It is commonly used in scientific contexts, particularly in chemistry, to describe compounds that can neutralize acids. The nuance of the term suggests a focus on the basic properties of substances rather than their acidic qualities.

Strokes12Radical土
Cultural note

In Chinese medicine and cooking, the balance between alkaline and acidic foods is significant, as it is believed to affect health. Understanding terms like 堿 can enhance comprehension of traditional practices and modern scientific discussions.

Memory tip

Imagine a giant soda can (for 'soda') standing on a mountain (the 'mount' radical represented by 土) to help you remember the character 堿. The sound 'jiǎn' can be linked to 'giant' and 'soda' as both are large and bubbly, emphasizing the concept of something basic yet effervescent.

Meanings of 堿

jiǎn(jian3)
1salty
2base
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 堿

堿Simplified
12Strokes
土Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

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Podcast: 堿

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AI study notes for 堿

Usage Notes

When using 堿, ensure you distinguish it from its more common variant 鹼 (jiǎn), which also means 'alkali' but is used in different contexts. This word is more technical and should be used in scientific discussions rather than informal conversations. Be careful with the tone; it is pronounced with a third tone (jiǎn).

HSK Study Tips

Since 堿 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, focus on related terms such as 鹼 (jiǎn) for a broader understanding of chemistry-related vocabulary at HSK Level 3. Students should practice differentiating between basic and acidic terms in chemistry.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 堿 with 鹼, using them interchangeably in incorrect contexts. For example, saying '我需要一些堿水' (I need some base water) instead of '我需要一些鹼水' is incorrect; the correct term for alkaline water is 鹼水.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 堿

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Etymology of 堿

Formation typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory hint

earth

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

Origin

堿 = 土 + 咸. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 堿

IDS Structure⿰土咸
堿Full character
=
土Tu3
left
咸Xian2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 堿?

How to say salty in Chinese

“salty” in Chinese is堿jiǎn

The character 堿 (jiǎn) refers to a chemical base or soda, often associated with alkaline substances. It is commonly used in scientific contexts, particularly in chemistry, to describe compounds that can neutralize acids. The nuance of the term suggests a focus on the basic properties of substances rather than their acidic qualities.

When to use 堿

When using 堿, ensure you distinguish it from its more common variant 鹼 (jiǎn), which also means 'alkali' but is used in different contexts. This word is more technical and should be used in scientific discussions rather than informal conversations. Be careful with the tone; it is pronounced with a third tone (jiǎn).

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 堿 with 鹼, using them interchangeably in incorrect contexts. For example, saying '我需要一些堿水' (I need some base water) instead of '我需要一些鹼水' is incorrect; the correct term for alkaline water is 鹼水.

Write 堿

堿

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

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Word Family of 堿

Words containing this character1
堿jiǎnbase

Frequently asked questions about 堿

堿 specifically refers to bases or soda, while 鹼 is a more general term for alkali and is used more frequently in various contexts.

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