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砒 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
砒pīarseniczg, 9 strokes, radical 石
pī(pi1) T1
  1. 1arsenic
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

砒pī(pi1)

The character 砒 (pī) refers to arsenic, a toxic element often associated with poison. It is commonly used in discussions about chemistry, toxicology, and safety regulations concerning hazardous substances.

Strokes9Radical石
Cultural Note

In historical contexts, arsenic has been associated with poison and intrigue in Chinese literature, often linked to stories of betrayal or assassination attempts.

Memory Tip

Imagine a 'p' (for pī) with a sharp edge, cutting through safety as it is a dangerous substance. The radical 石 (stone) hints at its mineral origins, while the 'p' sound can remind you of peril, emphasizing its toxicity.

Meanings of 砒

pī(pi1)
1arsenic
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 砒

砒Simplified
9Strokes
石Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 砒

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Podcast: 砒

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AI Study Notes for 砒

Usage Notes

砒 is often used in scientific and formal contexts, so avoid using it in casual conversation. Be cautious with tone; the fourth tone (pī) can sound similar to other words, so proper pronunciation is key. Common collocations include 砒霜 (pī shuāng), meaning arsenic trioxide.

HSK Study Tips

While 砒 is not part of HSK vocabulary, it's beneficial for learners interested in science-related terms. Students should focus on related vocabulary in chemistry or environmental studies to contextualize their understanding.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 砒 (pī) with similar-sounding characters. For example, mixing it up with 皮 (pí), which means skin. Remember that 砒 has a distinct sharp tone and relates to toxicity.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 砒

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Etymology of 砒

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

Phonosemantic compound. 石 represents the meaning and 比 represents the sound.

Memory Hint

mineral

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 砒

Phonosemantic compound. 石 represents the meaning and 比 represents the sound.

  1. 1The meaning half石 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half比 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawaymineral
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

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

Want the full history of 砒? 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 砒?

Decomposition of 砒

IDS Structure⿰石比
砒Full Character
=
石dan4
left
比Bi3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 砒?

How to say arsenic in Chinese

“arsenic” in Chinese is砒pī

The character 砒 (pī) refers to arsenic, a toxic element often associated with poison. It is commonly used in discussions about chemistry, toxicology, and safety regulations concerning hazardous substances.

When to use 砒

砒 is often used in scientific and formal contexts, so avoid using it in casual conversation. Be cautious with tone; the fourth tone (pī) can sound similar to other words, so proper pronunciation is key. Common collocations include 砒霜 (pī shuāng), meaning arsenic trioxide.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 砒 (pī) with similar-sounding characters. For example, mixing it up with 皮 (pí), which means skin. Remember that 砒 has a distinct sharp tone and relates to toxicity.

Write 砒

砒

Practice writing 砒 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 砒

Words Containing This Character2
砒霜white arsenic
砒pīarsenic
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 砒霜 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 砒

砒 is often mentioned in discussions about environmental health, toxic substances, and safety regulations.

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