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氜 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
氜rìheliumzg, 8 strokes, radical 气
氜rìold name for 氦[hai4], heliumunknown, 8 strokes, radical 气
氜rìold variant of 陽|阳[yang2]unknown, 8 strokes, radical 气
氜yángheliumzg, 8 strokes, radical 气
氜yángold name for 氦[hai4], heliumunknown, 8 strokes, radical 气
氜yángold variant of 陽|阳[yang2]unknown, 8 strokes, radical 气
rì(ri4)
primary
 T4
  1. 1helium
  2. 2old name for 氦[hai4], helium
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

氜rì(ri4)

The character 氜 (rì) refers to helium, a chemical element known for being a colorless, odorless gas. It is often associated with balloons and is used in various scientific applications. This character is an archaic variant of 陽 (yáng), which means 'sun' or 'yang', highlighting its historical context in relation to elements associated with light and energy.

Strokes8Radical气
Cultural Note

Helium is significant in Chinese culture as it is used in festive celebrations, particularly in balloon decorations for events like weddings and birthdays. Its lightness and association with joy make it a popular choice for celebrations.

Memory Tip

Imagine a bright sun (陽) shining down, but instead of heat, it releases a cool breeze filled with helium. The radical 气 (qì) suggests gas, and the phonetic rì can remind you of the sun's rays, creating a vivid image of helium's lightness.

Meanings of 氜

rì(ri4)
primary
1helium
2old name for 氦[hai4], helium
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 氜

氜Simplified
8Strokes
气Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 氜

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Podcast: 氜

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AI Study Notes for 氜

Usage Notes

氜 is rarely used in modern contexts, primarily found in historical or scientific texts. Be careful not to confuse it with 陽, which is still commonly used. When discussing helium in everyday language, use 氦 (hài) instead.

HSK Study Tips

Since this character is not part of the HSK vocabulary, focus on learning related terms like 氦 (hài) for helium and 陽 (yáng) for sun, which are more relevant in everyday conversation and scientific discussions.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 氜 with 陽 (yáng) due to their similar appearance. Remember, 氜 specifically refers to helium and is not used in common language, while 陽 has broader applications related to the sun.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 氜

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Etymology of 氜

Formation TypeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Memory Hint

The gas 气 that comprises the sun 日

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 氜

  1. 1The giveawayThe gas 气 that comprises the sun 日
  2. 2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 氜? 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 氜?

Decomposition of 氜

IDS Structure⿹气日
氜Full Character
=
气qi4
enclosing
日Ri4
inner
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 氜?

How to say helium in Chinese

“helium” in Chinese is氜rì

The character 氜 (rì) refers to helium, a chemical element known for being a colorless, odorless gas. It is often associated with balloons and is used in various scientific applications. This character is an archaic variant of 陽 (yáng), which means 'sun' or 'yang', highlighting its historical context in relation to elements associated with light and energy.

When to use 氜

氜 is rarely used in modern contexts, primarily found in historical or scientific texts. Be careful not to confuse it with 陽, which is still commonly used. When discussing helium in everyday language, use 氦 (hài) instead.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 氜 with 陽 (yáng) due to their similar appearance. Remember, 氜 specifically refers to helium and is not used in common language, while 陽 has broader applications related to the sun.

Write 氜

氜

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 氜

Words Containing This Character1
氜rìold name for 氦[hài], helium
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 氜 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 氜

氜 is an archaic term and is not used in modern Mandarin; instead, use 氦 (hài) to refer to helium.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 氜?

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.