硝 (xiāo) — saltpeter, niter
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
Easily confused
- 哨shàolook-alikewhistle
- 消xiāosound-aliketo eliminate, to dispel, to subside
- 销xiāolook-aliketo sell
- 肖xiāosound-alike(bound form) used as a surname; also a component in compounds meaning 'to resemble' (pronounced xiào)
- 稍shāolook-alikea little, slightly, somewhat
- 削xiāosound-aliketo pare, to peel (fruit), to sharpen (a pencil)
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.
Origin
Appears in
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