硝 (xiāo) — saltpeter, niter | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

硝 (xiāo) refers specifically to saltpeter (potassium nitrate), the white mineral used historically in gunpowder and tanning. Almost always appears in compounds like 火硝 or 硝石 rather than on its own.

noun

saltpeterniter

Examples

硝。
Gǔ dài zhōng guó yòng xiāo zhì zào huǒ yào.
Ancient China used saltpeter to make gunpowder.
硝。
Zhè zhǒng xiāo kě yǐ yòng lái chǔ lǐ pí gé.
This kind of saltpeter can be used to treat leather.
，硝。
Zài shí yàn shì lǐ, xiāo shì yì zhǒng cháng jiàn de huà xué yào pǐn.
In the laboratory, saltpeter is a common chemical.