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
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
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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Phonosemantic compound. 气 represents the meaning and 炎 represents the sound.
1The meaning half气 carries the sense.
2The sound half炎 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawaygas
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 氮? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 氮?
Decomposition of 氮
IDS Structure⿹气炎
氮Full Character
=
气qi4
enclosing
炎yan2
inner
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component 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
Complete the Sentence
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.
