Definitions

qiān (noun) lead (chemical element)

Etymology

Simplified form of . Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

is the simplified form of the traditional character . A phonosemantic compound, it combines the metal radical (a simplification of ) on the left, indicating that the word belongs to the class of metals, with the phonetic component on the right. The character's core meaning is the heavy, malleable chemical element lead. Because it was once believed that the graphite in early pencils was a form of lead, extended to denote pencil 'lead' and is now used in various terms for writing and drawing materials.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我喜欢用笔写字。

Wǒ xǐhuān yòng qiānbǐ xiězì.

I like to write with a pencil.

他正在扔球。

Tā zhèngzài rēng qiānqiú.

He is throwing the shot put.

这支笔的芯断了。

Zhè zhī qiānbǐ de qiānxīn duàn le.

The lead of this pencil is broken.

是一种重金属。

Qiān shì yī zhǒng zhòng jīnshǔ.

Lead is a heavy metal.

污染对健康有害。

Qiān wūrǎn duì jiànkāng yǒuhài.

Lead pollution is harmful to health.

汽车使用蓄电池。

Qìchē shǐyòng qiān xùdiànchí.

Cars use lead-acid batteries.

的密度比铁大。

Qiān de mìdù bǐ tiě dà.

The density of lead is greater than that of iron.

开采矿会破坏环境。

Kāicǎi qiānkuàng huì pòhuài huánjìng.

Mining lead ore can damage the environment.