About
The character for "steel" in Chinese, traditionally written as "鋼" with the metal radical "金" and the phonetic component "岡", derives from early references to hardened iron, with its formation combining a semantic indicator for metal with a phonetic element suggesting pronunciation. Over time, as metallurgical knowledge advanced, the meaning of the character narrowed from a broader sense of toughened iron to specifically designate the iron-carbon alloy known as steel, while its structure continued to emphasize the metallic category through the radical. The simplified form "钢" maintains the metal radical but replaces the phonetic with "冈", a streamlined component that still offers a phonetic cue, reflecting a pattern in character modification where functional elements are preserved despite graphical changes. This evolution in form and specificity in meaning illustrates how the character adapts to both linguistic efficiency and technological clarity, retaining its core association with a durable metal while aligning with developments in material science.
Example Sentences Hide
这是一支钢笔。
钢铁很坚硬。
工厂生产钢材。
钢琴的声音很好听。
钢化玻璃不容易破碎。
我们需要钢铁来建造大楼。
这种钢材的质量非常可靠。
通过先进的技术，钢的韧性得到了极大改善。