About
The traditional character 鹽 is a phono-semantic compound for salt. The left side 鹵 (lǔ) represents the meaning: it pictures an alkaline field dotted with salt crystals, indicating rock salt or salty soil. The right side 監 (jiān) gives the sound; it contains the component 皿 'vessel', which suggests the process of extracting or boiling salt. The modern simplified 盐 replaces the complex 鹵 with the earth radical 土 (tǔ) at the bottom, hinting at salt's mineral origin, and uses a simplified version of 監 as the top element. Throughout its history, the character has consistently referred to salt, a vital substance for food and preservation.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
汤里需要加点盐。
食盐是重要的调味品。
少吃盐对健康有好处。
这个湖的盐度非常高。
盐的主要成分是氯化钠。
古代盐业曾由国家专营。
这些盐渍土壤需要改良。
盐矿的开采历史非常悠久。
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