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铷 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
铷rúrubidiumg, 11 strokes, radical 钅, rank #82347, Very Hard
铷rúrubidium (chemistry)unknown, 11 strokes, radical 钅, rank #82347, Very Hard
rú(ru2) T2
  1. 1rubidium
  2. 2rubidium (chemistry)
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March 24, 2026

铷(銣)rú(ru2)

铷 (rú) refers to the chemical element rubidium, which is a soft, silvery-white metallic element. It is primarily used in specialized applications such as atomic clocks and various types of glass. In chemistry, it is categorized as an alkali metal and is known for its high reactivity.

Strokes11Radical钅Frequency#82347DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

Rubidium has significance in modern Chinese scientific research, particularly in the development of precision instruments like atomic clocks, which are crucial for global positioning systems (GPS) used widely in daily life.

Memory Tip

Imagine a 'rub' of silver on a white surface, representing the soft, silvery color of rubidium. The character 铷 has the metal radical '金' (jīn) at the top, indicating that it is a metal, and the '如' (rú) below can be remembered as 'you like to rub' this soft metal.

Meanings of 铷

rú(ru2)
1rubidium
2rubidium (chemistry)
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 铷

铷Simplified
銣Traditional
11Strokes
钅Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 铷

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Podcast: 铷

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AI Study Notes for 铷

Usage Notes

When discussing rubidium in a chemistry context, ensure the term is used appropriately in scientific discussions rather than casual conversations. A common mistake is confusing it with similar-sounding elements; always clarify it in context. It is more formal and less commonly used outside scientific discussions.

HSK Study Tips

Although not included in the HSK levels, understanding 铷 can be useful for advanced learners interested in chemistry vocabulary. Focus on related terms like '化学' (huàxué - chemistry) and '元素' (yuánsù - element) to build a stronger foundation.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 铷 with 余 (yú) or other similar-sounding terms in chemistry. For example, saying '我学习余' (Wǒ xuéxí yú) instead of '我学习铷' (Wǒ xuéxí rú) can lead to misunderstandings regarding the element being discussed.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 铷

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Etymology of 铷

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

metal

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 铷

  1. 1The meaning half钅 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half如 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 铷? 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 铷?

Decomposition of 铷

IDS Structure⿰钅如
铷Full Character
=
钅jin1
left
如ru2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 铷?

How to say rubidium in Chinese

“rubidium” in Chinese is铷rú

铷 (rú) refers to the chemical element rubidium, which is a soft, silvery-white metallic element. It is primarily used in specialized applications such as atomic clocks and various types of glass. In chemistry, it is categorized as an alkali metal and is known for its high reactivity.

When to use 铷

When discussing rubidium in a chemistry context, ensure the term is used appropriately in scientific discussions rather than casual conversations. A common mistake is confusing it with similar-sounding elements; always clarify it in context. It is more formal and less commonly used outside scientific discussions.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 铷 with 余 (yú) or other similar-sounding terms in chemistry. For example, saying '我学习余' (Wǒ xuéxí yú) instead of '我学习铷' (Wǒ xuéxí rú) can lead to misunderstandings regarding the element being discussed.

Write 铷

铷

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

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Word Family of 铷

Words Containing This Character1
铷rúrubidium (chemistry)銣
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 铷 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 铷

Rubidium is used in atomic clocks, which are essential for accurate timekeeping in GPS and telecommunications.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 铷?

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.