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铼 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
láirheniumg, 12 strokes, radical 钅, rank #87292, Very Hard
láirhenium (chemistry)unknown, 12 strokes, radical 钅, rank #87292, Very Hard
lái(lai2) T2
  1. 1rhenium
  2. 2rhenium (chemistry)
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March 24, 2026
(錸)lái(lai2)

铼 (lái) refers to the chemical element rhenium, which is a rare metal used in high-temperature superalloys and catalysts. It is known for its high melting point and density, making it valuable in specialized industrial applications. You may encounter this term primarily in scientific contexts, especially chemistry and materials science.

Strokes12RadicalFrequency#87292DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

Rhenium is particularly significant in China's development of advanced technology and aerospace industries, where high-performance materials are crucial. Its rarity and utility make it a symbol of innovation in modern industrial practices.

Memory Tip

Think of the character 铼 as a 'metal' (the radical 钅 indicates metal) combined with '来' (lái), which sounds like 'lay'. Imagine laying down a heavy metal on a table, reminding you of rhenium's weight and significance in industry.

Meanings of 铼

lái(lai2)
1rhenium
2rhenium (chemistry)
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 铼

Simplified
Traditional
12Strokes
Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 铼

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AI Study Notes for 铼

Memory Mnemonic

Think of the character 铼 as a 'metal' (the radical 钅 indicates metal) combined with '来' (lái), which sounds like 'lay'. Imagine laying down a heavy metal on a table, reminding you of rhenium's weight and significance in industry.

Usage Notes

When using 铼, ensure you are in a scientific or technical context, as it is not commonly used in everyday conversation. Be careful with pronunciation; the tone is crucial as a mispronunciation could lead to confusion with other similar-sounding words.

HSK Study Tips

Although 铼 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, understanding it can enhance your chemistry vocabulary. Focus on learning related terms in the same field, such as metals and elements, to build a specialized lexicon.

Cultural Note

Rhenium is particularly significant in China's development of advanced technology and aerospace industries, where high-performance materials are crucial. Its rarity and utility make it a symbol of innovation in modern industrial practices.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 铼 with similar-sounding characters or incorrectly assume it is a common word. Remember that it is a technical term primarily used in chemistry, not everyday conversation.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 铼

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Etymology of 铼

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 铼?

Decomposition of 铼

IDS Structure⿰钅来
Full Character
=
jin1
left
lai2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 铼?

Write 铼

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 铼

🏮Cultural insight

Rhenium is particularly significant in China's development of advanced technology and aerospace industries, where high-performance materials are crucial. Its rarity and utility make it a symbol of innovation in modern industrial practices.

Word Family of 铼

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

Compound Meaning

What does 铼 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 铼

Rhenium is used in high-temperature superalloys, which are essential for jet engines and other high-performance applications.