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锗 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
锗zhěgermaniumn, 13 strokes, radical 钅, rank #49072, Very Hard
锗zhěgermanium (chemistry)unknown, 13 strokes, radical 钅, rank #49072, Very Hard
zhě(zhe3)zhe T3
  1. 1germanium
  2. 2germanium (chemistry)
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March 24, 2026

锗(鍺)zhě(zhe3)

锗 (zhě) refers to the chemical element germanium, which is a metalloid used in semiconductors and optics. It is important in the electronics industry and is often discussed in contexts related to chemistry and technology.

Strokes13Radical钅Frequency#49072DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

Germanium is significant in modern Chinese technological development, particularly in the semiconductor industry, which is vital for advancements in electronics and telecommunications in China.

Memory tip

Think of锗 (zhě) as a 'gear' (sounds like 'zhě') in a high-tech machine. The 'metal' radical (金) on the left hints at its metallic properties, while the right side can remind you of a 'circuit' where germanium plays a vital role.

Meanings of 锗

zhě(zhe3)
1germanium
2germanium (chemistry)
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 锗

锗Simplified
鍺Traditional
13Strokes
钅Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 锗

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Podcast: 锗

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AI study notes for 锗

Usage Notes

This term is used primarily in scientific contexts, especially in chemistry and physics. Be careful with pronunciation, as misplacing the tone can lead to confusion with other similar-sounding words. Common collocations include phrases like '锗材料' (germanium materials) or '锗晶体' (germanium crystal).

HSK Study Tips

Although 锗 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it connects to other scientific terms you may learn at higher levels. Focus on its use in chemistry-related discussions and familiarize yourself with its applications in technology.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 锗 (zhě) with other similar-sounding words like 这 (zhè) meaning 'this'. It's important to remember that 锗 specifically relates to the chemical element, while 这 is a demonstrative pronoun.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 锗

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Etymology of 锗

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

metal

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

Origin

锗 = 钅 + 者. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 锗

IDS Structure⿰钅者
锗Full character
=
钅jin1
left
者zhe3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 锗?

How to say germanium in Chinese

“germanium” in Chinese is锗zhě

锗 (zhě) refers to the chemical element germanium, which is a metalloid used in semiconductors and optics. It is important in the electronics industry and is often discussed in contexts related to chemistry and technology.

When to use 锗

This term is used primarily in scientific contexts, especially in chemistry and physics. Be careful with pronunciation, as misplacing the tone can lead to confusion with other similar-sounding words. Common collocations include phrases like '锗材料' (germanium materials) or '锗晶体' (germanium crystal).

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 锗 (zhě) with other similar-sounding words like 这 (zhè) meaning 'this'. It's important to remember that 锗 specifically relates to the chemical element, while 这 is a demonstrative pronoun.

Write 锗

锗

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Word Family of 锗

Words containing this character1
锗zhěgermanium (chemistry)鍺

Frequently asked questions about 锗

锗 is crucial in the production of semiconductors and various electronic devices, hence its relevance in modern technology.

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