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錳 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
錳měngmanganesex, 16 strokes, radical 釒
měng(meng3) T3
  1. 1manganese
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

錳měng(meng3)

錳 (měng) refers to manganese, a chemical element that plays a vital role in various industrial processes and biological systems. It is commonly used in steel production and battery manufacturing, making it an important material in modern technology.

Strokes16Radical釒
Cultural Note

In Chinese industry, manganese is crucial for producing high-quality steel, which is a cornerstone of China's rapid urbanization and industrialization over the past few decades. Understanding its significance helps learners appreciate China's economic development.

Memory Tip

Think of 錳 as a 'metal' (the left radical 金, which means metal) that is 'meng' famous for its importance in steel. Imagine a strong, robust manganese steel beam supporting a skyscraper, symbolizing its strength and utility.

Meanings of 錳

měng(meng3)
1manganese
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 錳

錳Simplified
16Strokes
釒Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 錳

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Podcast: 錳

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AI Study Notes for 錳

Usage Notes

When using 錳, be aware that it is primarily used in scientific and industrial contexts, so it's not commonly encountered in everyday conversation. Pay attention to the pronunciation, as confusing it with similar-sounding words can lead to misunderstandings.

HSK Study Tips

While 錳 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it is beneficial for learners at higher levels interested in scientific terms. Students should focus on recognizing the character's radicals and its usage in contexts related to chemistry and materials science.

Common Mistakes

Learners may confuse 錳 with similar sounding characters such as 猛 (měng), which means fierce. Ensure you practice the correct pronunciation and context to avoid such errors.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 錳

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Etymology of 錳

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

metal

Semantic (meaning)釒
+
Phonetic (sound)孟
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 錳

  1. 1The meaning half釒 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half孟 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawaymetal
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 錳? 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 錳?

Decomposition of 錳

IDS Structure⿰釒孟
錳Full Character
=
釒jin1
left
孟Meng4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 錳?

How to say manganese in Chinese

“manganese” in Chinese is錳měng

錳 (měng) refers to manganese, a chemical element that plays a vital role in various industrial processes and biological systems. It is commonly used in steel production and battery manufacturing, making it an important material in modern technology.

When to use 錳

When using 錳, be aware that it is primarily used in scientific and industrial contexts, so it's not commonly encountered in everyday conversation. Pay attention to the pronunciation, as confusing it with similar-sounding words can lead to misunderstandings.

What learners get wrong

Learners may confuse 錳 with similar sounding characters such as 猛 (měng), which means fierce. Ensure you practice the correct pronunciation and context to avoid such errors.

Write 錳

錳

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 錳

Words Containing This Character4
锰měngmanganese (chemistry)錳
高锰酸钾potassium permanganate高錳酸鉀
二氧化锰manganese(iv) oxide二氧化錳
锰结核manganese nodule錳結核
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 锰 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 錳

錳 is essential in manufacturing steel and batteries, contributing significantly to various technological advancements.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 錳?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.