硷 (jiǎn) — (variant of 碱) alkali, base

Definition

硷 (jiǎn) is a variant written form of 碱, the standard character for 'alkali / base' in chemical contexts.

verb

(variant of 碱) alkalibase

硷。
Zhè zhǒng jiǎn xìng róng yè kě yǐ zhōng hé suān.
This alkaline solution can neutralize acid.
硷。
Shí yàn shì lǐ xū yào yòng dào jiǎn.
Alkali is needed in the lab.
硷。
Tǔ rǎng de jiǎn xìng tài gāo huì yǐng xiǎng zuò wù shēng zhǎng.
If the soil's alkalinity is too high, it will affect crop growth.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 礆; 硷 is its simplified writing.

石僉礆

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

僉

僉qiān礆

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 礆 is made from 石 (stone) and 僉, which gives the sound; the simplified 硷 is a later shorthand.

Appears in