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March 24, 2026
鈉nà(na4)
鈉 (nà) refers to sodium, a chemical element essential for various biological functions. It is commonly used in scientific and everyday contexts, particularly in discussions about nutrition and chemistry. Additionally, it can denote the action of sharpening wood, though this usage is less common.
Strokes12Radical釒Frequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
Sodium plays a significant role in Chinese cuisine, particularly in the use of salt (盐, yán). The understanding of sodium is also important in discussions about health and dietary practices in China.
Memory Tip
Imagine a sharp knife made of sodium cutting through wood. The character 鈉 has the metal radical 鉄 (iron) on the left, hinting at its metallic nature, and the right side resembles a sharp tool, reinforcing the idea of sharpening.
Meanings of 鈉
nà(na4)
1sodium, natrium; to sharpen wood
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 鈉
鈉Simplified
12Strokes
釒Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 鈉
Podcast: 鈉
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AI Study Notes for 鈉
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a sharp knife made of sodium cutting through wood. The character 鈉 has the metal radical 鉄 (iron) on the left, hinting at its metallic nature, and the right side resembles a sharp tool, reinforcing the idea of sharpening.
Usage Notes
In scientific contexts, 鈉 is primarily used in chemistry and should be used formally. A common mistake is to confuse it with other metals like 钠 (nà), which is the more widely used term for sodium. Remember that 鈉 is less frequently encountered in everyday conversation.
HSK Study Tips
While 鈉 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it is relevant for learners interested in scientific terminology. Focus on recognizing it in chemical discussions and associating it with other metal-related characters.
Cultural Note
Sodium plays a significant role in Chinese cuisine, particularly in the use of salt (盐, yán). The understanding of sodium is also important in discussions about health and dietary practices in China.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 鈉 with other elements due to similar-sounding pronunciations. For example, mistakenly using 钠 when discussing the chemical properties of sodium in a scientific context is incorrect; 鈉 is appropriate for traditional contexts.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 鈉
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Cultural Notes for 鈉
🏮Cultural insight
Sodium plays a significant role in Chinese cuisine, particularly in the use of salt (盐, yán). The understanding of sodium is also important in discussions about health and dietary practices in China.
Word Family of 鈉
Words Containing This Character11
钠nàsodium (chemistry)鈉
氢氧化钠caustic soda氫氧化鈉
氯化钠common salt氯化鈉
碳酸钠soda碳酸鈉
硝酸钠sodium nitrate硝酸鈉
碳酸氢钠sodium bicarbonate碳酸氫鈉
硫酸钠sodium sulfate硫酸鈉
磷酸钠sodium phosphate (chemistry)磷酸鈉
氰化钠sodium cyanide NaCN氰化鈉
硫代硫酸钠sodium hyposulfide硫代硫酸鈉
苛性钠caustic soda苛性鈉
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 钠 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 鈉
鈉 (nà) is the traditional character for sodium, while 钠 (nà) is the simplified version used more commonly in modern contexts.
You can use 鈉 in scientific contexts, for example: '水中含有鈉' (There is sodium in the water).
Not commonly; it’s primarily used in scientific or technical discussions.
