unknown, 12 strokes, radical 石, rank #20720, Very Hard
xiāo(xiao1) T1
1saltpeter; to tan leather
2to tan (leather)
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March 24, 2026
硝xiāo(xiao1)
硝 (xiāo) refers primarily to saltpeter, a chemical compound often used in fertilizers, explosives, and food preservation. It can also denote the process of tanning leather, which involves treating animal skins to make them more durable and flexible. The word is commonly used in agricultural and industrial contexts.
Strokes12Radical石Frequency#20720DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In ancient China, saltpeter was crucial for making gunpowder, which played a significant role in warfare and fireworks, linking this character to important historical events and celebrations.
Memory Tip
Think of 硝 (xiāo) as 'salty' (the 'salt' in 'saltpeter') and 'shining' (the 'shiny' leather from tanning). The character combines the radical 硬 (hard) with '咬' (yǎo), suggesting something tough that can be made shiny and useful, like leather or explosives.
Meanings of 硝
xiāo(xiao1)
1saltpeter; to tan leather
2to tan (leather)
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 硝
硝Simplified
12Strokes
石Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 硝
Podcast: 硝
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AI Study Notes for 硝
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 硝 with similar-sounding words, so pay attention to pronunciation. This term is more commonly used in scientific or industrial contexts rather than in everyday conversation. Be careful with the tone; using the wrong tone could lead to misunderstandings.
HSK Study Tips
硝 is not part of the standard HSK vocabulary, but understanding it can enhance your grasp of specialized vocabulary related to chemistry and agriculture. Students at higher levels should focus on its applications in context, such as in discussions about fertilizers or leather production.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mispronounce 硝 as 'shāo' instead of 'xiāo'. Additionally, some may confuse it with similar characters like 燒 (shāo, to burn). Always check the context to ensure you're using the correct term.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 硝
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Phonosemantic compound. 石 represents the meaning and 肖 represents the sound.
1The meaning half石 carries the sense.
2The sound half肖 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawaymineral
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 硝? 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 硝?
Decomposition of 硝
IDS Structure⿰石肖
硝Full Character
=
石dan4
left
肖Xiao1
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 硝?
How to say saltpeter; to tan leather in Chinese
“saltpeter; to tan leather” in Chinese is硝xiāo
硝 (xiāo) refers primarily to saltpeter, a chemical compound often used in fertilizers, explosives, and food preservation. It can also denote the process of tanning leather, which involves treating animal skins to make them more durable and flexible. The word is commonly used in agricultural and industrial contexts.
When to use 硝
Learners often confuse 硝 with similar-sounding words, so pay attention to pronunciation. This term is more commonly used in scientific or industrial contexts rather than in everyday conversation. Be careful with the tone; using the wrong tone could lead to misunderstandings.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mispronounce 硝 as 'shāo' instead of 'xiāo'. Additionally, some may confuse it with similar characters like 燒 (shāo, to burn). Always check the context to ensure you're using the correct term.
Write 硝
硝
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Practice writing 硝 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 硝
硝 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
Complete the Sentence
____酸盐是水和土壤中自然存在的化学物质。
Nitrates are chemicals that occur naturally in water and the soil.
