About
The character 铅, representing the metal lead, evolved from its traditional form 鉛, which combines the metal radical 金 with the phonetic component 㕣 to denote both its category and ancient pronunciation. Structurally, the left-hand radical inherently classifies it among metals, while the right-hand element historically provided a phonetic cue that has since become less transparent due to sound shifts over time. In terms of meaning, the character has primarily retained its reference to the elemental metal, yet its usage expanded in certain contexts, such as in the term 铅笔 for pencil, where it historically alludes to the lead-like writing core despite modern pencils using graphite. The simplification to 铅 involved a streamlining of the metal radical, but the character's essential semantic connection to lead has remained unchanged throughout its history.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
我喜欢用铅笔写字。
他正在扔铅球。
这支铅笔的铅芯断了。
铅是一种重金属。
铅污染对健康有害。
汽车使用铅蓄电池。
铅的密度比铁大。
开采铅矿会破坏环境。