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镍 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
镍niènickeln, 15 strokes, radical 钅, rank #18894, Very Hard
镍niènickel (chemistry)unknown, 15 strokes, radical 钅, rank #18894, Very Hard
niè(nie4)nie T4
  1. 1nickel
  2. 2nickel (chemistry)
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March 24, 2026

镍(鎳)niè(nie4)

镍 (niè) refers to the chemical element nickel, a metal used in various alloys and as a component in batteries. It is commonly encountered in industrial contexts, particularly in metallurgy and chemistry. The term is important in discussions about materials science and environmental issues, such as recycling.

Strokes15Radical钅Frequency#18894DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

Nickel is significant in China's industrial sector, especially in battery production for electric vehicles, which is a key part of China's push towards green technology. The character is often encountered in discussions about sustainable materials.

Memory tip

Think of 镍 as a 'nickel' coin, which is often shiny and silver-colored, just like the character itself. The radical 钅 (metal) suggests its metallic nature, and the pronunciation 'niè' can remind you of 'net,' as in catching metals in a net for recycling.

Meanings of 镍

niè(nie4)
1nickel
2nickel (chemistry)
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 镍 means.

About 镍

镍Simplified
鎳Traditional
15Strokes
钅Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 镍

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Podcast: 镍

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AI study notes for 镍

Usage Notes

Be careful to distinguish 镍 from similar-sounding characters, as mispronunciations can lead to confusion. This term is more commonly used in formal contexts, such as scientific discussions, rather than everyday conversations. It often collocates with words related to metals and chemistry.

HSK Study Tips

While 镍 is not part of the standard HSK vocabulary, it is useful for learners interested in science and technology. Students should focus on recognizing it in texts about chemistry and materials, as well as connecting it with other metals like 铁 (tiě, iron) and 铜 (tóng, copper) at similar levels.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 镍 with other metal-related characters like 铁 (tiě, iron) due to similar contexts. For example, saying '我喜欢镍' (I like nickel) without a proper context can sound awkward; it's better used in technical discussions.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 镍

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Etymology of 镍

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

metal

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

Origin

镍 = 钅 + 臬. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 镍

IDS Structure⿰钅臬
镍Full character
=
钅jin1
left
臬nie4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 镍?

How to say nickel in Chinese

“nickel” in Chinese is镍niè

镍 (niè) refers to the chemical element nickel, a metal used in various alloys and as a component in batteries. It is commonly encountered in industrial contexts, particularly in metallurgy and chemistry. The term is important in discussions about materials science and environmental issues, such as recycling.

When to use 镍

Be careful to distinguish 镍 from similar-sounding characters, as mispronunciations can lead to confusion. This term is more commonly used in formal contexts, such as scientific discussions, rather than everyday conversations. It often collocates with words related to metals and chemistry.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 镍 with other metal-related characters like 铁 (tiě, iron) due to similar contexts. For example, saying '我喜欢镍' (I like nickel) without a proper context can sound awkward; it's better used in technical discussions.

Write 镍

镍

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

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Grammar patterns of 镍

镍 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 1

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

通常与金混合的金属有____ 、 铂和铜.

Metals commonly mixed with gold are nickel, platinum, and copper.

Example sentences for 镍 (1)

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1
通常与金混合的金属有镍 、 铂和铜.

tōngcháng yǔ jīn hùnhé de jīnshǔ yǒu niè、 bó hé tóng.

Metals commonly mixed with gold are nickel, platinum, and copper.

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Word Family of 镍

Words containing this character1
镍niènickel (chemistry)鎳

Frequently asked questions about 镍

镍 is primarily used in the production of stainless steel and batteries, due to its corrosion-resistant properties.

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