About
The character 氧 is a modern phono-semantic compound created for scientific terminology, combining the semantic radical 气 (gas or air) with the phonetic component 羊. Coined during the translation of Western chemical texts into Chinese, it represents the element oxygen. The choice of 羊 approximates the pronunciation of 養 (to nourish), reflecting oxygen’s role as the life-sustaining gas essential for respiration and combustion. Its meaning is confined to the chemical element, with no figurative uses outside scientific contexts.
Example Sentences Hide
植物产生氧气。
人类呼吸需要氧气。
水中有溶解的氧气。
登山者携带氧气瓶。
铁在空气中会氧化。
医院给病人提供氧气。
光合作用释放出氧气。
臭氧层保护地球免受紫外线伤害。