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March 24, 2026
钠(鈉)nà(na4)
钠 (nà) refers primarily to sodium, a chemical element essential for various biological functions and widely used in industrial applications. In certain contexts, it can also mean to sharpen wood, though this usage is less common. The character is often encountered in chemistry and food-related discussions, particularly in relation to salt.
Strokes9Radical钅Frequency#14468DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese cuisine, sodium is often associated with salt, which is a fundamental seasoning. The importance of salt in Chinese cooking reflects the broader cultural value placed on flavor balance and food preservation.
Memory Tip
Imagine a chef named Na who sharpens his wooden utensils before cooking. The character 钠 has a metal radical (金) at the top, suggesting its metallic nature in sodium, while the bottom part resembles a knife, symbolizing the sharpening action.
Meanings of 钠
nà(na4)
1sodium, natrium; to sharpen wood
2sodium (chemistry)
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
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About 钠
钠Simplified
鈉Traditional
9Strokes
钅Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 钠
Podcast: 钠
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AI Study Notes for 钠
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a chef named Na who sharpens his wooden utensils before cooking. The character 钠 has a metal radical (金) at the top, suggesting its metallic nature in sodium, while the bottom part resembles a knife, symbolizing the sharpening action.
Usage Notes
钠 is primarily used in scientific contexts when discussing elements or compounds, such as sodium chloride (table salt). Be cautious with the tone; it should always be pronounced with a falling tone (nà). Common collocations include '钠盐' (sodium salt) and '钠元素' (sodium element).
HSK Study Tips
Though 钠 is not part of the HSK vocabulary lists, it connects with other chemistry-related terms in Level 3 and beyond. Students should focus on understanding its role in compounds and its pronunciation to avoid confusion with similar-sounding words.
Cultural Note
In Chinese cuisine, sodium is often associated with salt, which is a fundamental seasoning. The importance of salt in Chinese cooking reflects the broader cultural value placed on flavor balance and food preservation.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 钠 (sodium) with 盐 (salt). For example, saying '我喜欢钠' (I like sodium) instead of '我喜欢盐' (I like salt) is incorrect. Focus on using 钠 in scientific contexts and 盐 in culinary ones.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 钠
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Grammar Patterns of 钠
钠 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
在外面,全城的____光灯都亮了.
Out over the town the sodium lights were lit.
Example Sentences for 钠 (5)
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1
在外面,全城的钠光灯都亮了.
zài wài miàn, , quán chéng de nà guāng dēng dū liàng.
Out over the town the sodium lights were lit.
2
食盐由40%的钠和60%的氯化物构成。
shí yán yóu40% 40% de nà60% hé 60% de lǜ huà wù。
Common salt is made up of 40% sodium and 60% chloride.
Production Asia Lu : suanna, R 123 stupid emphasis on humanities chemical raw materials.
4
钙长石与钠长石是重要的含钙长石.
gài cháng shí yǔ nà cháng shí shì zhòng yào de hán gài cháng shí.
Anorthite and albite are important calcium - containing feldspars.
5
如果除去细胞外液的钠而阻止钙外流,就会出现肌肉挛缩了.
rú guǒ chú qù xì bāo wài yè de nà ér zǔ zhǐ gài wài liú, , jiù huì chū xiàn jī ròu luán suō.
Contracture occurs when the efflux of calcium is prevented by removing the extracellular sodium.
Cultural Notes for 钠
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese cuisine, sodium is often associated with salt, which is a fundamental seasoning. The importance of salt in Chinese cooking reflects the broader cultural value placed on flavor balance and food preservation.
Word Family of 钠
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 钠
No, 钠 is mainly used in scientific or technical contexts rather than in everyday conversation.
You can remember it by associating 'nà' with 'Na', the symbol for sodium on the periodic table.
