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铈 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
铈shìceriumn, 10 strokes, radical 钅, rank #74247, Very Hard
铈shìcerium (chemistry)unknown, 10 strokes, radical 钅, rank #74247, Very Hard
shì(shi4) T4
  1. 1cerium
  2. 2cerium (chemistry)
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

铈(鈰)shì(shi4)

铈 (shì) refers to cerium, a chemical element in the lanthanide series. It is primarily used in various industrial applications, particularly in the production of catalysts and glass polishing agents. In chemistry, understanding the properties and uses of cerium can be significant for discussions on rare earth elements and their importance in technology.

Strokes10Radical钅Frequency#74247DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

Cerium is significant in modern technology, particularly in electronics and renewable energy applications, reflecting China's role in the global rare earth element market. Understanding its uses can provide insights into China's industrial growth and technological advancements.

Memory Tip

Think of 铈 (shì) by breaking it down: the left part '金' (jīn) means metal, suggesting it's a metal element. Imagine a shiny, silver metal that shines brightly, representing cerium. To remember its pronunciation, 'shì' sounds like 'she' - picture 'she' polishing glass with cerium powder to make it sparkle.

Meanings of 铈

shì(shi4)
1cerium
2cerium (chemistry)
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 铈

铈Simplified
鈰Traditional
10Strokes
钅Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 铈

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Podcast: 铈

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AI Study Notes for 铈

Usage Notes

When using the term 铈, it's essential to use it in the context of chemistry or materials science to avoid confusion with common metals. It is typically used in formal contexts, such as scientific discussions or technical documents. Be careful with the tone; the first tone of 'shì' can be confused with other tones if not pronounced clearly.

HSK Study Tips

Although 铈 is not part of the HSK vocabulary lists, it connects to HSK Level 3 chemistry-related terms like '元素' (yuánsù, element) and '化学' (huàxué, chemistry). Focus on combining it with other scientific vocabulary to enhance your technical language skills.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 铈 with other similar sounding elements or metals, such as '锂' (lǐ, lithium). Make sure to use the correct character and pronunciation; for example, saying '锂' when you mean '铈' can lead to misunderstandings.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 铈

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Etymology of 铈

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

metal

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 铈

  1. 1The meaning half钅 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half市 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawaymetal
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

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

Want the full history of 铈? 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 铈?

Decomposition of 铈

IDS Structure⿰钅市
铈Full Character
=
钅jin1
left
市shi4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 铈?

How to say cerium in Chinese

“cerium” in Chinese is铈shì

铈 (shì) refers to cerium, a chemical element in the lanthanide series. It is primarily used in various industrial applications, particularly in the production of catalysts and glass polishing agents. In chemistry, understanding the properties and uses of cerium can be significant for discussions on rare earth elements and their importance in technology.

When to use 铈

When using the term 铈, it's essential to use it in the context of chemistry or materials science to avoid confusion with common metals. It is typically used in formal contexts, such as scientific discussions or technical documents. Be careful with the tone; the first tone of 'shì' can be confused with other tones if not pronounced clearly.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 铈 with other similar sounding elements or metals, such as '锂' (lǐ, lithium). Make sure to use the correct character and pronunciation; for example, saying '锂' when you mean '铈' can lead to misunderstandings.

Write 铈

铈

Practice writing 铈 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 铈

Words Containing This Character1
铈shìcerium (chemistry)鈰
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 铈 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 铈

Cerium is commonly used in catalysts for automotive engines and in the production of glass polishing agents.

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