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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) T3
  1. 1germanium
  2. 2germanium (chemistry)
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
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

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 锗

  1. 1The meaning half钅 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half者 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 锗? 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 锗?

Decomposition of 锗

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

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component 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

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

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Word Family of 锗

Words Containing This Character1
锗zhěgermanium (chemistry)鍺
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 锗 mean?

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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Not sure what to learn after 锗?

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