HSK 7, ns, 13 strokes, radical 钅, rank #10526, Hard
锡
xī
tin (chemistry)
HSK 7, unknown, 13 strokes, radical 钅, rank #10526, Hard
锡
xī
to grant
HSK 7, unknown, 13 strokes, radical 钅, rank #10526, Hard
锡
xī
Taiwan pr. [xi2]
HSK 7, unknown, 13 strokes, radical 钅, rank #10526, Hard
xī(xi1) T1
1tin; to bestow, to confer
2tin (chemistry)
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March 24, 2026
锡(錫)xī(xi1)
The character 锡 (xī) primarily means 'tin,' a chemical element often used in alloys and coatings. It can also be used in contexts related to bestowing or conferring something, such as honors or gifts. In some regions, it may be pronounced as [xi2], which can lead to confusion in terms of meaning and usage.
Strokes13Radical钅Frequency#10526DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, tin has historical significance in metallurgy and is often associated with craftsmanship in traditional utensils and decorations. It symbolizes durability and value in certain contexts.
Memory Tip
Imagine a shiny tin can that reflects light in a way that seems to confer special properties to whatever is inside it. The character 锡 is composed of the metal radical '金' (metal) at the bottom, indicating its connection to metals like tin, while the top part resembles a fancy hat, suggesting the act of bestowing or conferring something valuable.
Meanings of 锡
xī(xi1)
1tin; to bestow, to confer
2tin (chemistry)
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 锡
锡Simplified
錫Traditional
13Strokes
钅Radical
地名míngcíplace name (p.n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 锡
Podcast: 锡
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AI Study Notes for 锡
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a shiny tin can that reflects light in a way that seems to confer special properties to whatever is inside it. The character 锡 is composed of the metal radical '金' (metal) at the bottom, indicating its connection to metals like tin, while the top part resembles a fancy hat, suggesting the act of bestowing or conferring something valuable.
Usage Notes
When using 锡 to mean 'tin,' ensure you're in a context related to materials or chemistry. Be careful with pronunciation, as the tone 'xī' (first tone) is critical for the correct meaning, especially in Taiwan where 'xi2' might be used instead. Common collocations include 锡合金 (tin alloy) and 锡制品 (tin products).
HSK Study Tips
While 锡 is not part of the HSK curriculum, it relates to the study of materials and chemistry terms, which are common in higher HSK levels. Students should focus on its usage in scientific contexts and connect it to other metal-related vocabulary.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, tin has historical significance in metallurgy and is often associated with craftsmanship in traditional utensils and decorations. It symbolizes durability and value in certain contexts.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 锡 with similar-sounding characters, leading to mispronunciations like 'xi' (neutral tone) instead of 'xī' (first tone). Another mistake is using 锡 in non-technical contexts where it may not apply, such as everyday conversation without relevance to tin or conferring.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 锡
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Grammar Patterns of 锡
锡 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 4 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
他写了几首诗。____德告诉他那几首诗都不押韵。
He had written a few poems. Sid told him they didn't scan.
Example Sentences for 锡 (10)
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1
他写了几首诗。锡德告诉他那几首诗都不押韵。
tā xiě le jī shǒu shī。 。 xī dé gào sù tā nà jī shǒu shī dū bù yā。
He had written a few poems. Sid told him they didn't scan.
2
她给孩子脱下衣服，然后把她放进锡铁澡盆里。
tā gěi hái zǐ tuō xià yī fú， ， rán hòu bǎ tā fàng jìn xī tiě zǎo pén。
She undressed the child before putting her in the tin bath.
3
锡西不仅驼背，而且又矮又胖。
xī xī bù jǐn tuó bèi， ， ér qiě yòu ǎi yòu。
Cissie was round-shouldered and dumpy.
4
1358年击败锡耶纳之后佩鲁贾的影响力达到了顶峰。
1358 1358 nián jī bài xī yé nà zhī hòu pèi lǔ jiǎ de yǐng xiǎng lì dá dào le dǐng。
The zenith of Perugia'sinfluence came with the defeat of Siena in
5
请看这座萨卢斯蒂奥·班迪尼的雕像，他是一位杰出的锡耶纳人。
qǐng kàn zhè zuò sà lú sī dì ào· · bān dí ní de diāo， xiàng ， tā shì yī wèi jié chū de xī yé。
Note the statue to Sallustio Bandini, a prominent Sienese.
6
这儿离马尔锡有多远？
zhè ér lí mǎ ěr xī yǒu duō yuǎn？
How far is it to Malcy?
7
锡尔弗敦路，是这条路么？
xī ěr fú dūn lù， ， shì zhè tiáo lù？
Silvertown Way, was that the road?
8
城里有为数众多的锡克教教徒。
chéng lǐ yǒu wéi shù zhòng duō de xī kè jiào jiào tú。
The town has a sizeable Sikh population.
9
锡 、 铁 、 银和金都是金属.
xī、 、、 tiě 、 yín hé jīn dū shì.
Tin, iron, silver and gold are metals.
10
梳毛机通常由两个锡林及和它们相联的道夫组成.
shū máo jī tōng cháng yóu liǎng gè xī lín jí hé tā mén xiāng lián de dào fū zǔ chéng.
The card usually consists of two cylinders and their associated doffers.
Cultural Notes for 锡
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, tin has historical significance in metallurgy and is often associated with craftsmanship in traditional utensils and decorations. It symbolizes durability and value in certain contexts.
Word Family of 锡
Words Containing This Character14
锡xīto bestow錫
无锡Wuxi prefecture level city in Jiangsu無錫
无锡市Wuxi prefecture level city in Jiangsu無錫市
锡安Zion錫安
锡箔tinfoil錫箔
锡兰Ceylon (former name of Sri Lanka)錫蘭
阎锡山Yan Xishan (1883-1960), warlord in Shanxi閻錫山
莱比锡Leipzig, city in the state of Saxony, Germany萊比錫
麦肯锡MacKenzie麥肯錫
刘禹锡Liu Yuxi (772-842), Tang poet劉禹錫
锡矿tin ore錫礦
焊锡solder焊錫
锡金Sikkim, Indian state bordering Tibet錫金
锡林郭勒盟Xilin Gol league, a prefecture level subdivision of Inner Mongolia錫林郭勒盟
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 锡 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 锡
In chemistry, 锡 refers to the element tin, which is used in various alloys and as a protective coating.
The standard pronunciation is 'xī' with a first tone, but be aware that in some regions like Taiwan, it can be pronounced as 'xi2'.
Yes, but it is more commonly used in specific contexts related to materials or when discussing awards and honors.
