磷

燐/粦
lín
石 + 粦

Definitions

lín (noun) phosphorus (chemistry)

Etymology phono-semantic

mineral

Semantic: 石 Phonetic: 粦

About

磷 (lín) is the character used in modern Chinese for the nonmetallic element phosphorus. Its left-side semantic radical 石 (shí, 'stone') classifies it as a mineral or solid substance. The right-side component 粦 (lín) serves as the phonetic and evokes a will-o'-the-wisp, the eerie glow from decomposing organic matter. Before its scientific adoption, the character referred to thin, water-washed stones or that phosphorescent light, so it naturally came to represent the highly reactive, glow-in-the-dark element when nomenclature was standardized.

Example Sentences Hide

磷是一种化学元素。

Lín shì yī zhǒng huàxué yuánsù.

Phosphorus is a chemical element.

火柴头含有磷。

Huǒchái tóu hányǒu lín.

Match heads contain phosphorus.

磷肥能促进植物生长。

Línféi néng cùjìn zhíwù shēngzhǎng.

Phosphate fertilizer can promote plant growth.

磷酸常用于制造饮料。

Línsuān cháng yòng yú zhìzào yǐnliào.

Phosphoric acid is often used in making beverages.

水体中磷过量会导致藻类泛滥。

Shuǐtǐ zhōng lín guòliàng huì dǎozhì zǎolèi fànlàn.

Excessive phosphorus in water bodies can lead to algal blooms.

工业上从磷矿石中提取磷。

Gōngyè shàng cóng lín kuàngshí zhōng tíqǔ lín.

In industry, phosphorus is extracted from phosphate ore.

磷化氢是一种有毒的气体。

Línhuàqīng shì yī zhǒng yǒudú de qìtǐ.

Phosphine is a toxic gas.

科学家正在研究如何回收污水中的磷。

Kēxuéjiā zhèngzài yánjiū rúhé huíshōu wūshuǐ zhōng de lín.

Scientists are studying how to recover phosphorus from wastewater.

Related Characters

Component: 石

确 研 破 础 硬 码 碰 矿 碎 岩 碍 磨 磁 碗

Component: 粦

麟 鳞 粼 嶙 遴 辚 膦 鄰 驎 瞵 鱗 鏻 隣 亃

Example Words

磷脂 卵磷脂 磷矿 磷酸 磷酸钙 有机磷 磷火 磷灰石 磷磷 磷肥 磷酸盐