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镴 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
镴làtin, solderzg, 20 strokes, radical 钅, rank #50315, Very Hard
là(la4) T4
  1. 1tin, solder
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

镴(鑞)là(la4)

镴 (là) refers to tin, a metal commonly used in soldering and various alloys. In industrial contexts, it is primarily associated with electrical and plumbing applications, where tin is used to create solder that joins metal parts together. The term is less frequently used in everyday conversation, making it more relevant for technical discussions.

Strokes20Radical钅Frequency#50315DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

Tin has historical significance in Chinese metallurgy, being used since ancient times for making coins and other metalwork. In traditional Chinese culture, the use of tin is also associated with craftsmanship and the fine arts.

Memory Tip

Think of '镴' as a shiny tin can. The character has a metal component on the left (金), indicating something metallic, and the right part (各) can remind you of various uses, like different cans made of tin. Imagine a can of soup, which is often made of tin, to help remember its meaning and pronunciation.

Meanings of 镴

là(la4)
1tin, solder
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 镴

镴Simplified
鑞Traditional
20Strokes
钅Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 镴

JasonAmy

Podcast: 镴

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 镴

Usage Notes

镴 is used primarily in technical or industrial contexts and may not be familiar to all Mandarin speakers. Be cautious of using it in casual conversation, as it may lead to confusion. Common collocations include ‘镴焊’ (soldering) and ‘镴锡合金’ (tin alloy).

HSK Study Tips

Although 镴 is not part of HSK, understanding it can be beneficial for students interested in technical vocabulary. Consider focusing on related terms in metallurgy or manufacturing contexts to build your vocabulary around this area.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 镴 with similar-sounding metals like 锡 (xī), which also means tin but is more commonly used for solder. For example, using 锡 when referring to solder in technical discussions can lead to confusion.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 镴

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Etymology of 镴

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

metal

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 镴

  1. 1The meaning half钅 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half巤 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 镴? 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 镴?

Decomposition of 镴

IDS Structure⿰钅巤
镴Full Character
=
钅jin1
left
巤lie4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 镴?

How to say tin, solder in Chinese

“tin, solder” in Chinese is镴là

镴 (là) refers to tin, a metal commonly used in soldering and various alloys. In industrial contexts, it is primarily associated with electrical and plumbing applications, where tin is used to create solder that joins metal parts together. The term is less frequently used in everyday conversation, making it more relevant for technical discussions.

When to use 镴

镴 is used primarily in technical or industrial contexts and may not be familiar to all Mandarin speakers. Be cautious of using it in casual conversation, as it may lead to confusion. Common collocations include ‘镴焊’ (soldering) and ‘镴锡合金’ (tin alloy).

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 镴 with similar-sounding metals like 锡 (xī), which also means tin but is more commonly used for solder. For example, using 锡 when referring to solder in technical discussions can lead to confusion.

Write 镴

镴

Practice writing 镴 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 镴

Words Containing This Character2
镴làtin鑞
银样镴枪头silvery spear point actually made of pewter (idiom); fig. worthless despite an attractive exterior銀樣鑞槍頭
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 镴 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 镴

镴 specifically refers to tin, while other metals like 铁 (iron) and 铜 (copper) have their own distinct uses and contexts.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 镴?

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.