氖

nǎi

乃 + 气

Definitions

nǎi neon (chemistry)

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 气 represents the meaning and 乃 represents the sound.

Semantic: 气 Phonetic: 乃

About

氖 is a modern phonosemantic compound created for chemical nomenclature. The gas radical 气 marks it as a gaseous element, while 乃 (nǎi) provides the pronunciation by transliterating the first syllable of "neon". It names the noble gas neon, which is inert and glows reddish-orange when an electric current passes through it in a vacuum tube. The character follows the Chinese convention for naming elements: a radical indicating the element's state paired with a component suggesting the sound.

Example Sentences Hide

氖气是一种惰性气体。

Nǎi qì shì yī zhǒng duòxìng qìtǐ.

Neon gas is a type of inert gas.

空气中含有少量的氖。

Kōngqì zhōng hányǒu shǎo liàng de nǎi.

The air contains a small amount of neon.

氖灯常用于广告牌。

Nǎi dēng cháng yòng yú guǎnggào pái.

Neon lights are often used in billboards.

氖的原子序数是十。

Nǎi de yuánzǐ xùshù shì shí.

The atomic number of neon is ten.

氖在元素周期表中位于第二周期。

Nǎi zài yuánsù zhōuqī biǎo zhōng wèi yú dì èr zhōuqī.

Neon is located in the second period of the periodic table.

科学家利用氖进行光谱分析。

Kēxuéjiā lìyòng nǎi jìnxíng guāngpǔ fēnxī.

Scientists use neon for spectral analysis.

氖气的放电现象会产生红色光芒。

Nǎi qì de fàngdiàn xiànxiàng huì chǎnshēng hóngsè guāngmáng.

The discharge phenomenon of neon gas produces red light.

由于氖的化学性质不活泼，它被用作保护气体。

Yóuyú nǎi de huàxué xìngzhì bù huópō, tā bèi yòng zuò bǎohù qìtǐ.

Because neon's chemical properties are inactive, it is used as a protective gas.

Related Characters

Component: 乃

Component: 气