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铋 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
铋bìbismuthg, 10 strokes, radical 钅, rank #56711, Very Hard
铋bìbismuth (chemistry)unknown, 10 strokes, radical 钅, rank #56711, Very Hard
bì(bi4) T4
  1. 1bismuth
  2. 2bismuth (chemistry)
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

铋(鉍)bì(bi4)

铋 (bì) refers to the chemical element bismuth, which is a metal known for its low toxicity and unique properties, often used in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. In chemistry, it is recognized for its high density and low thermal conductivity, and is part of the p-block of the periodic table. The term is primarily used in scientific contexts, particularly in chemistry and materials science.

Strokes10Radical钅Frequency#56711DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the use of bismuth in cosmetics, especially in products like facial powders, reflects a growing interest in beauty and health trends. Bismuth's low toxicity aligns with traditional Chinese values of health and safety in personal care.

Memory Tip

Think of the character 铋 (bì) as a 'metal' (the radical 钅) that 'bends' (the pronunciation bì could remind you of 'bent'). Imagine a shiny, bendable metal, representing bismuth’s unique physical properties. Visualize it being used to create colorful cosmetics, which connect to its common applications.

Meanings of 铋

bì(bi4)
1bismuth
2bismuth (chemistry)
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 铋

铋Simplified
鉍Traditional
10Strokes
钅Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 铋

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Podcast: 铋

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AI Study Notes for 铋

Usage Notes

铋 is a formal term used primarily in scientific contexts, so it may not be commonly used in everyday conversation. Learners should be careful with the pronunciation, especially the fourth tone in bì, which can be confused with other similar-sounding characters. Collocations often include terms like '铋合金' (bismuth alloy) or '铋化合物' (bismuth compound).

HSK Study Tips

Although 铋 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, understanding it can benefit students at HSK 4 or higher who are interested in chemistry or science. Focus on the character's components and its pronunciation to better remember its meaning and context within scientific language.

Common Mistakes

Learners may confuse 铋 with similar-sounding characters like 必 (bì), which means 'must' or 'necessary.' It's important to remember that 铋 specifically refers to the element bismuth, not a common action or necessity. Another mistake is using the wrong tone, so practicing the fourth tone is essential.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 铋

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Etymology of 铋

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

metal

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 铋

  1. 1The meaning half钅 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half必 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 铋? 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 铋?

Decomposition of 铋

IDS Structure⿰钅必
铋Full Character
=
钅jin1
left
必bi4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 铋?

How to say bismuth in Chinese

“bismuth” in Chinese is铋bì

铋 (bì) refers to the chemical element bismuth, which is a metal known for its low toxicity and unique properties, often used in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. In chemistry, it is recognized for its high density and low thermal conductivity, and is part of the p-block of the periodic table. The term is primarily used in scientific contexts, particularly in chemistry and materials science.

When to use 铋

铋 is a formal term used primarily in scientific contexts, so it may not be commonly used in everyday conversation. Learners should be careful with the pronunciation, especially the fourth tone in bì, which can be confused with other similar-sounding characters. Collocations often include terms like '铋合金' (bismuth alloy) or '铋化合物' (bismuth compound).

What learners get wrong

Learners may confuse 铋 with similar-sounding characters like 必 (bì), which means 'must' or 'necessary.' It's important to remember that 铋 specifically refers to the element bismuth, not a common action or necessity. Another mistake is using the wrong tone, so practicing the fourth tone is essential.

Write 铋

铋

Practice writing 铋 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 铋

Words Containing This Character1
铋bìbismuth (chemistry)鉍
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 铋 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 铋

Bismuth is significant in chemistry due to its unique properties, including low toxicity and its use in various applications such as pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 铋?

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