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镭 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
镭léiradiumn, 18 strokes, radical 钅, rank #20510, Very Hard
镭léiradium (chemistry)unknown, 18 strokes, radical 钅, rank #20510, Very Hard
léi(lei2) T2
  1. 1radium
  2. 2radium (chemistry)
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March 24, 2026

镭(鐳)léi(lei2)

镭 (léi) refers to radium, a radioactive element used in various scientific and medical applications. It is primarily noted in the context of chemistry and physics, particularly when discussing radioactive materials or elements on the periodic table.

Strokes18Radical钅Frequency#20510DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

Radium has historical significance in China, particularly in the context of medicine and the development of early radiotherapy practices. Its discovery and use have influenced both scientific advancement and health treatments.

Memory Tip

Think of 镭 (léi) as '雷' (thunder) with a twist—imagine the powerful energy of thunder connecting to the radioactive energy of radium. The character's metal radical '金' hints at its chemical nature, while the sound 'léi' can remind you of 'lightning'—both are associated with energy.

Meanings of 镭

léi(lei2)
1radium
2radium (chemistry)
Exercise 1 of 2

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Choose the correct answer:

About 镭

镭Simplified
鐳Traditional
18Strokes
钅Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 镭

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Podcast: 镭

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AI Study Notes for 镭

Usage Notes

When discussing radium, it’s important to use the term in scientific contexts rather than everyday conversation, as it is a technical term. Be cautious with the pronunciation; the 'léi' tone can be confused with other tones, leading to misunderstandings.

HSK Study Tips

Although 镭 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it can be a useful addition for learners interested in chemistry. Connecting it with other elements like 氢 (qīng, hydrogen) or 氧 (yǎng, oxygen) may help reinforce vocabulary related to the periodic table.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 镭 (radium) with similar sounding words like 雷 (thunder) due to their phonetic similarities. Remember that 镭 specifically refers to the chemical element, while 雷 is about weather phenomena.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 镭

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Etymology of 镭

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

Phonosemantic compound. 钅 represents the meaning and 雷 represents the sound. Simplified form of 鐳.

Memory Hint

metal

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 镭

Phonosemantic compound. 钅 represents the meaning and 雷 represents the sound. Simplified form of 鐳.

  1. 1The meaning half钅 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half雷 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 镭? 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 镭?

Decomposition of 镭

IDS Structure⿰钅雷
镭Full Character
=
钅jin1
left
雷Lei2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 镭?

How to say radium in Chinese

“radium” in Chinese is镭léi

镭 (léi) refers to radium, a radioactive element used in various scientific and medical applications. It is primarily noted in the context of chemistry and physics, particularly when discussing radioactive materials or elements on the periodic table.

When to use 镭

When discussing radium, it’s important to use the term in scientific contexts rather than everyday conversation, as it is a technical term. Be cautious with the pronunciation; the 'léi' tone can be confused with other tones, leading to misunderstandings.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 镭 (radium) with similar sounding words like 雷 (thunder) due to their phonetic similarities. Remember that 镭 specifically refers to the chemical element, while 雷 is about weather phenomena.

Write 镭

镭

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

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Word Family of 镭

Words Containing This Character2
镭léiradium (chemistry)鐳
镭射laser (loanword)鐳射
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 镭 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 镭

Radium is significant due to its radioactive properties, which have been utilized in cancer treatments and scientific research.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 镭?

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.