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氖 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
氖nǎineonn, 6 strokes, radical 气, rank #39223, Very Hard
氖nǎineon (chemistry)unknown, 6 strokes, radical 气, rank #39223, Very Hard
nǎi(nai3)nai T3
  1. 1neon
  2. 2neon (chemistry)
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March 24, 2026

氖nǎi(nai3)

氖 (nǎi) refers to the chemical element neon, which is a colorless, inert gas used in neon signs and fluorescent lights. It is commonly encountered in chemistry contexts, particularly when discussing noble gases or lighting technology.

Strokes6Radical气Frequency#39223DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

Neon signs are a significant aspect of modern urban culture in China, especially in cities like Shanghai and Hong Kong, where vibrant neon displays adorn streets and symbolize nightlife and entertainment.

Memory tip

Imagine a bright neon sign glowing in the night. The character 氖 has the radical 气 (qì), which means gas, and the component 乃 (nǎi) sounds like 'nigh'—as in, it's 'nigh' time for a colorful display! Picture the gas lighting up your surroundings.

Meanings of 氖

nǎi(nai3)
1neon
2neon (chemistry)
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 氖

氖Simplified
6Strokes
气Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 氖

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Podcast: 氖

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AI study notes for 氖

Usage Notes

Keep in mind that 氖 is primarily used in scientific or technical discussions, making it more formal than everyday vocabulary. A common mistake is confusing it with other noble gases like 氦 (hài, helium). Always remember its specific context in relation to neon lighting.

HSK Study Tips

氖 is not an HSK level vocabulary word, but understanding it can connect to scientific terminology found in higher-level studies. Students should focus on recognizing it in chemistry texts and learning related vocabulary like 气体 (qìtǐ, gas) and 元素 (yuánsù, element).

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 氖 with similar-looking characters, such as 氦 (hài, helium), which can lead to misunderstanding its usage. Always double-check the context to ensure you are using the correct element.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 氖

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Etymology of 氖

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

Phonosemantic compound. 气 represents the meaning and 乃 represents the sound.

Memory hint

gas

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

Origin

氖 = 气 + 乃. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 氖

IDS Structure⿹气乃
氖Full character
=
气qi4
enclosing
乃nai3
inner
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 氖?

How to say neon in Chinese

“neon” in Chinese is氖nǎi

氖 (nǎi) refers to the chemical element neon, which is a colorless, inert gas used in neon signs and fluorescent lights. It is commonly encountered in chemistry contexts, particularly when discussing noble gases or lighting technology.

When to use 氖

Keep in mind that 氖 is primarily used in scientific or technical discussions, making it more formal than everyday vocabulary. A common mistake is confusing it with other noble gases like 氦 (hài, helium). Always remember its specific context in relation to neon lighting.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 氖 with similar-looking characters, such as 氦 (hài, helium), which can lead to misunderstanding its usage. Always double-check the context to ensure you are using the correct element.

Write 氖

氖

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

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Grammar patterns of 氖

氖 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.

只有冷藏柜上的____灯发出阴惨惨的蓝光.

Only the neon in the cold counter glared a ghostly blue.

Example sentences for 氖 (1)

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1
只有冷藏柜上的氖灯发出阴惨惨的蓝光.

zhǐyǒu lěng cáng guì shàng de nǎi dēng fāchū yīn cǎn cǎn de lán guāng.

Only the neon in the cold counter glared a ghostly blue.

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Word Family of 氖

Words containing this character1
氖nǎineon (chemistry)

Frequently asked questions about 氖

氖 stands for neon, a noble gas that is colorless and inert.

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