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锰 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
锰měngmanganesen, 13 strokes, radical 钅, rank #40591, Very Hard
锰měngmanganese (chemistry)unknown, 13 strokes, radical 钅, rank #40591, Very Hard
měng(meng3)meng T3
  1. 1manganese
  2. 2manganese (chemistry)
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March 24, 2026

锰(錳)měng(meng3)

锰 (měng) refers to the chemical element manganese, which is a transition metal commonly used in steel production and other industrial applications. In chemistry, it is known for its important role as an alloying agent and for its various oxidation states. This character is often encountered in scientific and technical contexts.

Strokes13Radical钅Frequency#40591DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In China, manganese is important for the steel industry, which is a key part of the country's economic growth. The mining and production of manganese ores have historical significance in certain regions, influencing local economies.

Memory tip

Imagine a strong man (sounds like 'mêng') lifting a heavy metal, representing manganese (锰). The character 锰 has the component 钅, which signifies metal, and the phonetic element 亘, hinting at its strength and industrial significance.

Meanings of 锰

měng(meng3)
1manganese
2manganese (chemistry)
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 锰 means.

About 锰

锰Simplified
錳Traditional
13Strokes
钅Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 锰

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Podcast: 锰

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AI study notes for 锰

Usage Notes

锰 is primarily used in technical or scientific discussions, so it may not be suitable for casual conversation. Common collocations include '锰矿' (manganese ore) and '锰合金' (manganese alloy). Be careful with the tone; the correct pronunciation is with the third tone, 'měng', which can be confused with other similar-sounding words.

HSK Study Tips

Although 锰 is not included in the HSK vocabulary list, it is relevant for learners interested in science-related fields. Students should focus on understanding its usage in chemical contexts and how it relates to other metals and elements they may encounter.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 锰 with similar-sounding characters like 孟 (mèng, a surname). Additionally, some may mispronounce it as 'máng' instead of the correct 'měng'. Always remember the third tone for accurate pronunciation.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 锰

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Etymology of 锰

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

metal

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

Origin

锰 = 钅 + 孟. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 锰

IDS Structure⿰钅孟
锰Full character
=
钅jin1
left
孟Meng4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 锰?

How to say manganese in Chinese

“manganese” in Chinese is锰měng

锰 (měng) refers to the chemical element manganese, which is a transition metal commonly used in steel production and other industrial applications. In chemistry, it is known for its important role as an alloying agent and for its various oxidation states. This character is often encountered in scientific and technical contexts.

When to use 锰

锰 is primarily used in technical or scientific discussions, so it may not be suitable for casual conversation. Common collocations include '锰矿' (manganese ore) and '锰合金' (manganese alloy). Be careful with the tone; the correct pronunciation is with the third tone, 'měng', which can be confused with other similar-sounding words.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 锰 with similar-sounding characters like 孟 (mèng, a surname). Additionally, some may mispronounce it as 'máng' instead of the correct 'měng'. Always remember the third tone for accurate pronunciation.

Write 锰

锰

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

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Grammar patterns of 锰

锰 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 1

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

这种材料是一种叫做镓____砷化物的东东.

The material is a semiconductor called gallium manganese arsenide.

Example sentences for 锰 (1)

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1
这种材料是一种叫做镓锰砷化物的东东.

zhè zhǒng cáiliào shì yī zhǒng jiàozuò jiā měng shēn huà wù de dōng dōng.

The material is a semiconductor called gallium manganese arsenide.

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Word Family of 锰

Words containing this character4
锰měngmanganese (chemistry)錳
高锰酸钾gāoměngsuānjiǎpotassium permanganate高錳酸鉀
二氧化锰èryǎnghuàměngmanganese(iv) oxide二氧化錳
锰结核měngjiéhémanganese nodule錳結核
Exercise 1 of 3

Words with 锰

What does 高锰酸钾 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 锰

锰 means manganese, a chemical element used in various industrial applications.

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