Skip to content
Stroke order, etymology and audio for every word.Start learning
磷 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
磷línphosphorusn, 17 strokes, radical 石, rank #18730, Very Hard
lín(lin2)lin T2
  1. 1phosphorus
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

磷(燐)lín(lin2)

磷 (lín) refers to phosphorus, a chemical element essential for life, commonly found in fertilizers and biological molecules. It is often discussed in scientific contexts, particularly in chemistry and agriculture, where its role in plant growth and energy transfer is significant.

Strokes17Radical石Frequency#18730DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

Phosphorus plays a crucial role in Chinese agriculture, especially in boosting rice and wheat yields, which are staples in the Chinese diet. Understanding its significance can enhance discussions about food security in China.

Memory tip

Imagine '磷' as a glowing 'lin' (like a light) that nourishes plants. The character has a radical for stone (石), suggesting its mineral nature, and the pronunciation 'lín' can remind you of a 'linchpin' essential for growth.

Meanings of 磷

lín(lin2)
1phosphorus
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 磷 means.

About 磷

磷Simplified
燐Traditional
17Strokes
石Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 磷

JasonAmy

Podcast: 磷

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI study notes for 磷

Usage Notes

When discussing phosphorus, it's important to use the correct context—scientific or agricultural. Common mistakes include confusing 磷 with similar-sounding characters like 林 (lín, forest), which can lead to misunderstandings in conversation.

HSK Study Tips

While 磷 is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, it connects to other scientific terms that may appear in advanced studies. Focus on its applications in chemistry and how it relates to other elements like 碳 (tàn, carbon) and 氧 (yǎng, oxygen).

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 磷 with other characters due to similar pronunciation or appearance. For example, saying '林' (forest) instead of '磷' when discussing agricultural topics can lead to confusion.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 磷

Premium — Locked

Tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 磷, say it back, see your pitch against the model voice, and earn XP towards mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsPitch drawing+5 XP
Get Pro to unlock

Jason Explains 磷 to you

Let me explain 磷 for you

Make it yours

Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 磷 through them.

Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 215 AI credits.

How well do you know 磷?

Example

Learning Lab

Knowing 磷 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.

  • MeaningFree
  • CharacterFree
  • PinyinFree
  • TonePro
  • ListeningPro
  • SpeakingPro
  • WritingPro
See the Learning Lab Three facets free · no card needed

Etymology of 磷

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

mineral

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

Origin

磷 = 石 + 粦. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 磷

IDS Structure⿰石粦
磷Full character
=
石dan4
left
粦lin2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 磷?

How to say phosphorus in Chinese

“phosphorus” in Chinese is磷lín

磷 (lín) refers to phosphorus, a chemical element essential for life, commonly found in fertilizers and biological molecules. It is often discussed in scientific contexts, particularly in chemistry and agriculture, where its role in plant growth and energy transfer is significant.

When to use 磷

When discussing phosphorus, it's important to use the correct context—scientific or agricultural. Common mistakes include confusing 磷 with similar-sounding characters like 林 (lín, forest), which can lead to misunderstandings in conversation.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 磷 with other characters due to similar pronunciation or appearance. For example, saying '林' (forest) instead of '磷' when discussing agricultural topics can lead to confusion.

Write 磷

磷

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar patterns of 磷

磷 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). 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.

流入湖中的泉水和河水携带了溶于水的硝酸盐和____酸盐。

Springs and rivers that drain into lakes carry dissolved nitrates and phosphates.

Example sentences for 磷 (10)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
流入湖中的泉水和河水携带了溶于水的硝酸盐和磷酸盐。

liúrù hú zhōng de quán shuǐ hé hé shuǐ xiédài le róng yú shuǐ de xiāo suān yán hé lín suān yán。

Springs and rivers that drain into lakes carry dissolved nitrates and phosphates.
2
在哺乳动物细胞中脑磷脂和神经节苷脂可能执行同样的功能.

zài bǔrǔ dòngwù xìbāo zhōng nǎo lín zhī hé shénjīng jié gān zhī kěnéng zhíxíng tóngyàng de gōngnéng.

Those in mammalian cells, the cerebrosides and gangliosides, may perform similar functions.
3
只有地散磷是目前尚未正式鉴定的有机磷酸盐除莠剂.

zhǐyǒu dì sǎn lín shì mùqián shàngwèi zhèngshì jiàndìng de yǒujī lín suān yán chú yǒu jì.

Bensulide is the only presently registered herbicidal organophosphate.
4
海绿石 、 碳酸盐骨骸碎屑 、 海相化石和胶磷矿普遍出现.

hǎi lǜ dàn、 tàn suān yán gǔ hái suì xiè、 hǎi Xiāng huàshí hé jiāo lín kuàng pǔbiàn chūxiàn.

Glauconite, detrital carbonate skeletal debris, marine fossils, and collophane are commonly present.
5
磷矿中碳酸钙的含量决定了磷矿的毛细孔结构.

lín kuàng zhōng tàn suān gài de hánliàng juédìng le lín kuàng de máo xì Kǒng jiégòu.

The calcium carbonate content of phosphate rock determines the pore structure.
6
将乙酰丙酮铁, 苯基B- 萘胺及磷脂通过40目筛加入.

jiāng yǐ xiān bǐng tóng tiě, běn jīB- nài àn jí lín zhī tōngguò40 mù shāi jiārù.

The ferric acetylacetonate, phenyl betanaphthylamine , and lecithin are added through 40 - mesh screen.
7
他叙述了恙虫对焦磷酸四乙脂的抗性进化.

tā xùshù le yàng chóng duì Jiāo lín suān sì yǐ zhī de kàng xìng jìnhuà.

He described the evolution of resistance in Tetranychus against tetraethyl pyrophate.
8
生物膜由两层D磷脂分子组成.

shēngwù mó yóu liǎng céngD lín zhī fēn zi zǔchéng.

Biological membranes are composed of two layers of phospholipid molecules.
9
大豆光合作用所产生的最初碳水化合物是丙醣, 三磷酸甘油酸和甘油酸盐.

dà dòu guāng hézuò yòng suǒ chǎnshēng de zuìchū tàn shuǐ huà gě wù shì bǐng táng, sān lín suān Gān yóu suān hé Gān yóu suān yán.

The first carbohydrates produced in soybean photosynthesis are trioses, 3 - phosphoglyceric acid and glycerate.
10
磷酸三钙组分转化成为磷酸和硫酸钙.

lín suān sān gài zǔ fēn zhuǎnhuà chéngwéi lín suān hé liú suān gài.

The tricalcium phosphate constituent is converted to phosphoric acid and calcium sulfate.

Ask Jason

Have a question about 磷?

Jason answers about this word at your level: example sentences, how it differs from similar words, and a way to remember it.

Sign in free to ask. New accounts start with 215 AI credits.

Word Family of 磷

Words containing this character14
磷línvariant of 磷[lín]燐
磷酸phosphoric acid
磷脂phospholipid
有机磷organic phosphate有機磷
磷光phosphorescence
磷酸盐phosphate磷酸鹽
白磷white phosphorus
磷肥phosphate fertilizer
卵磷脂lecithin (phospholipid found in egg yolk)
磷酸钙calcium phosphate (chemistry)磷酸鈣
磷灰石apatite
磷酸钠sodium phosphate (chemistry)磷酸鈉
磷火phosphorescence
红磷red phosphorus紅磷
Exercise 1 of 4

Words with 磷

What does 磷酸 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 磷

Phosphorus is vital for plant growth, helping in energy transfer and root development, making it a key component in fertilizers.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 磷?

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.

A sample week, replayed. Every page you study lands here in the order you did it — your own replay starts with a free account.

See the Learning Lab