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铈 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
铈shìceriumn, 10 strokes, radical 钅, rank #74247, Very Hard
铈shìcerium (chemistry)unknown, 10 strokes, radical 钅, rank #74247, Very Hard
shì(shi4)shi T4
  1. 1cerium
  2. 2cerium (chemistry)
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March 24, 2026

铈(鈰)shì(shi4)

铈 (shì) refers to cerium, a chemical element in the lanthanide series. It is primarily used in various industrial applications, particularly in the production of catalysts and glass polishing agents. In chemistry, understanding the properties and uses of cerium can be significant for discussions on rare earth elements and their importance in technology.

Strokes10Radical钅Frequency#74247DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

Cerium is significant in modern technology, particularly in electronics and renewable energy applications, reflecting China's role in the global rare earth element market. Understanding its uses can provide insights into China's industrial growth and technological advancements.

Memory tip

Think of 铈 (shì) by breaking it down: the left part '金' (jīn) means metal, suggesting it's a metal element. Imagine a shiny, silver metal that shines brightly, representing cerium. To remember its pronunciation, 'shì' sounds like 'she' - picture 'she' polishing glass with cerium powder to make it sparkle.

Meanings of 铈

shì(shi4)
1cerium
2cerium (chemistry)
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 铈

铈Simplified
鈰Traditional
10Strokes
钅Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

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Podcast: 铈

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AI study notes for 铈

Usage Notes

When using the term 铈, it's essential to use it in the context of chemistry or materials science to avoid confusion with common metals. It is typically used in formal contexts, such as scientific discussions or technical documents. Be careful with the tone; the first tone of 'shì' can be confused with other tones if not pronounced clearly.

HSK Study Tips

Although 铈 is not part of the HSK vocabulary lists, it connects to HSK Level 3 chemistry-related terms like '元素' (yuánsù, element) and '化学' (huàxué, chemistry). Focus on combining it with other scientific vocabulary to enhance your technical language skills.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 铈 with other similar sounding elements or metals, such as '锂' (lǐ, lithium). Make sure to use the correct character and pronunciation; for example, saying '锂' when you mean '铈' can lead to misunderstandings.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 铈

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Etymology of 铈

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

metal

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

Origin

铈 = 钅 + 市. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 铈

IDS Structure⿰钅市
铈Full character
=
钅jin1
left
市shi4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 铈?

How to say cerium in Chinese

“cerium” in Chinese is铈shì

铈 (shì) refers to cerium, a chemical element in the lanthanide series. It is primarily used in various industrial applications, particularly in the production of catalysts and glass polishing agents. In chemistry, understanding the properties and uses of cerium can be significant for discussions on rare earth elements and their importance in technology.

When to use 铈

When using the term 铈, it's essential to use it in the context of chemistry or materials science to avoid confusion with common metals. It is typically used in formal contexts, such as scientific discussions or technical documents. Be careful with the tone; the first tone of 'shì' can be confused with other tones if not pronounced clearly.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 铈 with other similar sounding elements or metals, such as '锂' (lǐ, lithium). Make sure to use the correct character and pronunciation; for example, saying '锂' when you mean '铈' can lead to misunderstandings.

Write 铈

铈

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

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Word Family of 铈

Words containing this character1
铈shìcerium (chemistry)鈰

Frequently asked questions about 铈

Cerium is commonly used in catalysts for automotive engines and in the production of glass polishing agents.

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