HSK 7, n, 14 strokes, radical 石, rank #7476, Very Hard
碳
tàn
carbon
HSK 7, n, 14 strokes, radical 石, rank #7476, Very Hard
tàn(tan4) T4
1carbon (chemistry)
2carbon
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
碳tàn(tan4)
碳 (tàn) refers to carbon, a fundamental chemical element crucial for life and a key component in organic chemistry. It is commonly encountered in discussions about the environment, chemistry, and materials science. The term is often used in contexts related to carbon emissions, carbon dating, and various carbon compounds.
Strokes14Radical石Frequency#7476DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, discussions about 碳 often arise in the context of environmental protection and climate change, reflecting a growing awareness of ecological issues within society. Initiatives aimed at reducing 碳排放 are becoming increasingly important in urban planning and policy.
Memory Tip
Imagine a 'tan' (tàn) person who is made of carbon. The character 碳 combines the radical 石 (stone) indicating a material, with the phonetic component 'tan', linking it to the earthy, foundational presence of carbon in nature.
Meanings of 碳
tàn(tan4)
1carbon (chemistry)
2carbon
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 碳
碳Simplified
14Strokes
石Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#7476Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 碳
Podcast: 碳
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AI Study Notes for 碳
Usage Notes
碳 is typically used in scientific contexts, so it is considered a formal term. Be careful not to confuse it with other similar-sounding words. When discussing environmental issues, you might see collocations like '碳排放' (carbon emissions) or '碳中和' (carbon neutrality).
HSK Study Tips
碳 is not included in the HSK levels, but it connects with HSK vocabulary related to science and the environment. Students should focus on understanding its applications in discussions about ecology and chemistry, which may enhance their comprehension of related terms.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use 碳 in informal contexts where simpler terms might suffice. For example, saying '我需要碳' (I need carbon) in a casual chat is incorrect; instead, use it in specific discussions about environmental science.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 碳
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Drill the tone of 碳 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Phonosemantic compound. 石 represents the meaning and 炭 represents the sound.
1The meaning half石 carries the sense.
2The sound half炭 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawaymineral
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 碳? 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 碳?
Decomposition of 碳
IDS Structure⿰石炭
碳Full Character
=
石dan4
left
炭tan4
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 碳?
How to say carbon (chemistry) in Chinese
“carbon (chemistry)” in Chinese is碳tàn
碳 (tàn) refers to carbon, a fundamental chemical element crucial for life and a key component in organic chemistry. It is commonly encountered in discussions about the environment, chemistry, and materials science. The term is often used in contexts related to carbon emissions, carbon dating, and various carbon compounds.
When to use 碳
碳 is typically used in scientific contexts, so it is considered a formal term. Be careful not to confuse it with other similar-sounding words. When discussing environmental issues, you might see collocations like '碳排放' (carbon emissions) or '碳中和' (carbon neutrality).
What learners get wrong
Learners often mistakenly use 碳 in informal contexts where simpler terms might suffice. For example, saying '我需要碳' (I need carbon) in a casual chat is incorrect; instead, use it in specific discussions about environmental science.
Write 碳
碳
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Practice writing 碳 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
Grammar Patterns of 碳
碳 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
____化合物氧化后必然会产生二氧化碳。
Carbon dioxide is a necessary result of the oxidation of carbon compounds.
