(wán) — alkane (chemistry)

Definition

A chemistry term referring to alkanes (saturated hydrocarbons). Almost always used as a bound form attached to another character (e.g. 甲烷, 乙烷), rarely on its own.

bound form
alkane (chemistry)

Examples

  • Jiǎ wán shì zuì jiǎn dān de yǒu jī huà hé wù zhī yī.
    Methane is one of the simplest organic compounds.
  • Yǐ wán zài shí yàn shì zhōng cháng yòng yú zhì bèi yǐ xī.
    Ethane is often used in the lab to prepare ethylene.
  • wán Tīng shì bǎo hé tīng de yì zhǒng.
    Alkanes are a type of saturated hydrocarbon.

Origin

Sound + meaning
六书liùshū
形声xíngshēng

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
huǒfire
Sound part声符shēngfú
wánwán
Same sound today

The left part 火 is used in names for hydrocarbons, and the right part 完 gives the sound.

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.