硝 (xiāo) - Niter, saltpeter — a mineral salt (potassium nitrate)

硝Tone 1

xiāo ｜ 12 strokes ｜ radical:

想信

硝 · xiāo

Niter, saltpeter — a mineral salt (potassium nitrate) used historically in gunpowder, food preservation, and traditional medicine.

Niter, saltpeter — a mineral salt (potassium nitrate)

Usage highlights

SaltpeterGunpowderNiter/nitrePotassium nitrateSodium nitrateNitrate

Synonyms

  • 硝石— saltpeter, niter (mineral form)
  • 火硝— saltpeter (specifically for gunpowder)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • Gunpowder contains saltpeter (硝石).
  • This meat is cured with saltpeter (硝).
  • Traditional Chinese medicine uses mineral salts (硝类).
  • The chemical formula for saltpeter is KNO₃ (硝酸钾).

Collocations

  • Saltpeter(硝石)
  • Gunpowder(火药硝)
  • Niter/nitre(硝)
  • Potassium nitrate(硝酸钾)
  • Sodium nitrate(硝酸钠)
  • Nitrate(硝酸盐)

Idioms

  • Smoke and fire of war(硝烟烽火)
  • Gunpowder smoke(硝烟)
  • Battlefield smoke(硝烟弥漫)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • One of the key ingredients in the 'Four Great Inventions' of ancient China — gunpowder.
  • Used in traditional Chinese medicine for its purgative and cooling properties.
  • Historically important in food preservation, especially for meat curing.

FAQ