锰 (měng) — manganese

Definition

Examples

  • 锰。
    Zhè zhǒng měng yòng yú zhì zào diàn chí.
    This type of manganese is used to make batteries.
  • 锰。
    měng Shì yì zhǒng zhòng yào de jīn shǔ yuán sù.
    Manganese is an important metal element.
  • 锰。
    Zhè xiē kuàng shí zhōng hán yǒu fēng fù de měng.
    These ores contain abundant manganese.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 錳; 锰 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
金金jīnmetal
Sound part声符shēngfú
孟
孟mèng錳měng
Same sound today

The traditional form 錳 combines 金 (metal) with 孟, which gives the sound. The simplified 锰 is a later shorthand, and this shape story is about 錳.

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