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钷 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
promethiumg, 10 strokes, radical 钅, rank #71882, Very Hard
promethium (chemistry)unknown, 10 strokes, radical 钅, rank #71882, Very Hard
(po3) T3
  1. 1promethium
  2. 2promethium (chemistry)
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March 24, 2026
(鉕)(po3)

钷 (pǒ) refers to the chemical element promethium, which is a rare earth metal and part of the lanthanide series. In common usage, it is primarily encountered in scientific contexts, particularly in chemistry and physics, where it is discussed in relation to its properties and applications.

Strokes10RadicalFrequency#71882DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

Promethium is named after Prometheus, the figure from Greek mythology who stole fire from the gods. This connection reflects the element's significance in the realm of discovery and innovation, paralleling China's focus on scientific advancement.

Memory Tip

Imagine a pot (钷 looks like a pot) filled with a magical metallic substance that glows in the dark - this is promethium. The 'p' in pǒ can remind you of 'promethium', and the character's shape can evoke imagery of a pot holding something valuable and rare.

Meanings of 钷

(po3)
1promethium
2promethium (chemistry)
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 钷

Simplified
Traditional
10Strokes
Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 钷

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AI Study Notes for 钷

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a pot (钷 looks like a pot) filled with a magical metallic substance that glows in the dark - this is promethium. The 'p' in pǒ can remind you of 'promethium', and the character's shape can evoke imagery of a pot holding something valuable and rare.

Usage Notes

Be mindful that 钷 is a technical term and is rarely used in everyday conversations. It is primarily used in formal scientific discussions or texts. Ensure correct pronunciation with the third tone, as mispronouncing it could lead to confusion with other similar-sounding words.

HSK Study Tips

While 钷 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it can be beneficial for learners interested in chemistry or scientific terminology. It's a good opportunity to connect with other HSK vocabulary related to elements and science.

Cultural Note

Promethium is named after Prometheus, the figure from Greek mythology who stole fire from the gods. This connection reflects the element's significance in the realm of discovery and innovation, paralleling China's focus on scientific advancement.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 钷 with other similar characters like 铽 (tè), which refers to a different element. Always check the context to ensure you are using the correct term for promethium.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 钷

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Etymology of 钷

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

metal

Semantic (meaning)
+
Phonetic (sound)
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 钷?

Decomposition of 钷

IDS Structure⿰钅叵
Full Character
=
jin1
left
po3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 钷?

Write 钷

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

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Cultural Notes for 钷

🏮Cultural insight

Promethium is named after Prometheus, the figure from Greek mythology who stole fire from the gods. This connection reflects the element's significance in the realm of discovery and innovation, paralleling China's focus on scientific advancement.

Word Family of 钷

Words Containing This Character1
promethium (chemistry)
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 钷 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 钷

Promethium is important for its radioactive properties and is used in specialized applications like atomic batteries.