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氮 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
氮
dàn
nitrogen
n, 12 strokes, radical 气, rank #14344, Very Hard
氮
dàn
nitrogen (chemistry)
unknown, 12 strokes, radical 气, rank #14344, Very Hard
dàn(dan4)dan T4
1nitrogen
2nitrogen (chemistry)
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March 24, 2026
氮dàn(dan4)
氮 (dàn) refers to nitrogen, a chemical element that is essential for life and a key component of the Earth's atmosphere. It is commonly used in scientific and environmental contexts, particularly in chemistry, biology, and agriculture where nitrogen plays a crucial role in plant growth and development.
Strokes12Radical气Frequency#14344DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In Chinese agriculture, nitrogen is crucial for fertilization, and the use of nitrogen-rich fertilizers is a common practice among farmers to enhance crop yield. This highlights the importance of nitrogen in food production and sustainability.
Memory tip
Think of the character 氮 as resembling a cloud (氵) with 'dan' (a sound like 'dahn') floating in it, representing nitrogen's gaseous form in the atmosphere. Imagine a scientist in a lab wearing a lab coat, surrounded by nitrogen gas, working on experiments that require this vital element.
Meanings of 氮
dàn(dan4)
1nitrogen
2nitrogen (chemistry)
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
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About 氮
氮Simplified
12Strokes
气Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 氮
Podcast: 氮
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AI study notes for 氮
Usage Notes
氮 is used primarily in scientific contexts, so it is more commonly found in formal registers. Learners might confuse it with similar-sounding words; pay attention to pronunciation and context. It often collocates with terms related to chemistry, like '氮气' (dànqì) for nitrogen gas.
HSK Study Tips
Although 氮 is not included in HSK vocabulary lists, its scientific context makes it relevant for advanced learners. Students should focus on related scientific vocabulary and concepts to build a comprehensive understanding of nitrogen's role in various fields.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 氮 with other elements that have similar pronunciations or radicals, such as '碳' (tàn) for carbon. Remember that 氮 specifically refers to nitrogen, while 碳 refers to carbon.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 氮
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Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 氮 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
氮 = 气 + 炎. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 氮
IDS Structure⿹气炎
氮Full character
=
气qi4
enclosing
炎yan2
inner
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 氮?
How to say nitrogen in Chinese
“nitrogen” in Chinese is氮dàn
氮 (dàn) refers to nitrogen, a chemical element that is essential for life and a key component of the Earth's atmosphere. It is commonly used in scientific and environmental contexts, particularly in chemistry, biology, and agriculture where nitrogen plays a crucial role in plant growth and development.
When to use 氮
氮 is used primarily in scientific contexts, so it is more commonly found in formal registers. Learners might confuse it with similar-sounding words; pay attention to pronunciation and context. It often collocates with terms related to chemistry, like '氮气' (dànqì) for nitrogen gas.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 氮 with other elements that have similar pronunciations or radicals, such as '碳' (tàn) for carbon. Remember that 氮 specifically refers to nitrogen, while 碳 refers to carbon.
Write 氮
氮
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Practice writing 氮 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 氮
氮 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 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
S - 三____朵苯农药对农业生产变得越来越重要.
S - Triazine pesticides are rapidly becoming of increasing importance to agriculture.
Example sentences for 氮 (6)
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1
S - 三氮朵苯农药对农业生产变得越来越重要.
S - sān dàn duǒ běn nóng yào duì nóngyè shēngchǎn biàn de yuèláiyuè zhòngyào.
S - Triazine pesticides are rapidly becoming of increasing importance to agriculture.
