HSK 7, n, 9 strokes, radical 钅, rank #12469, Very Hard
钙
gài
calcium
HSK 7, n, 9 strokes, radical 钅, rank #12469, Very Hard
gài(gai4) T4
1calcium (chemistry)
2calcium
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March 24, 2026
钙(鈣)gài(gai4)
钙 (gài) refers to calcium, a chemical element essential for living organisms, particularly in bones and teeth. Commonly discussed in contexts related to nutrition, health, and chemistry, it's crucial for understanding dietary requirements and biological functions.
Strokes9Radical钅Frequency#12469DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese cuisine, calcium-rich foods like tofu and dairy products are often emphasized for their health benefits, reflecting a cultural focus on maintaining strong bones and overall health.
Memory Tip
Imagine a giant 'Giant Calcium' (钙) who stands tall with strong bones, symbolizing the strength that calcium provides. The character's left side resembles a metal component, linking it to chemistry, while the right side hints at the 'strength' of bones.
Meanings of 钙
gài(gai4)
1calcium (chemistry)
2calcium
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 钙
钙Simplified
鈣Traditional
9Strokes
钅Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#12469Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2
Podcast: 钙
Podcast: 钙
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AI Study Notes for 钙
Usage Notes
钙 is often used in medical or nutritional contexts, so it’s important to use it appropriately in discussions about health. Be careful not to confuse it with similar-sounding words like '盖' (gài), which means 'to cover'. It often collocates with terms like '补钙' (bǔ gài - to supplement calcium).
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 6 word, 钙 connects with other scientific terms and health-related vocabulary. Students should focus on expanding their understanding of nutrition and chemistry when learning this term, as it frequently appears in discussions about health.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse 钙 (gài) with 盖 (gài), which means 'to cover'. For instance, saying '我吃盖' instead of '我吃钙' is incorrect when discussing dietary supplements. Always ensure you're using the right character for calcium.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 钙
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Phonosemantic compound. 钅 represents the meaning and 丐 represents the sound. Simplified form of 鈣.
1The meaning half钅 carries the sense.
2The sound half丐 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawaymetal
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 钙? 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 钙?
Decomposition of 钙
IDS Structure⿰钅丐
钙Full Character
=
钅jin1
left
丐gai4
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 钙?
How to say calcium (chemistry) in Chinese
“calcium (chemistry)” in Chinese is钙gài
钙 (gài) refers to calcium, a chemical element essential for living organisms, particularly in bones and teeth. Commonly discussed in contexts related to nutrition, health, and chemistry, it's crucial for understanding dietary requirements and biological functions.
When to use 钙
钙 is often used in medical or nutritional contexts, so it’s important to use it appropriately in discussions about health. Be careful not to confuse it with similar-sounding words like '盖' (gài), which means 'to cover'. It often collocates with terms like '补钙' (bǔ gài - to supplement calcium).
What learners get wrong
Learners sometimes confuse 钙 (gài) with 盖 (gài), which means 'to cover'. For instance, saying '我吃盖' instead of '我吃钙' is incorrect when discussing dietary supplements. Always ensure you're using the right character for calcium.
Write 钙
钙
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Practice writing 钙 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 钙
钙 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.
