鉛 (qiān) - Lead — a heavy, soft, malleable metallic element & graphite core of a pencil

鉛Tone 1

qiān ｜ 13 strokes ｜ radical:

器情

鉛 · qiān

Lead — a heavy, soft, malleable metallic element (chemical symbol Pb);

graphite core of a pencil;

also used in historical contexts for certain alloys.

Lead — a heavy, soft, malleable metallic elementgraphite core of a pencilalso used in historical contexts for certain alloys.

Usage highlights

Lead metalPencilLeadLead poisoningLead alloyLead weight

Synonyms

  • Pb— Chemical symbol for lead

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • Lead is a heavy metal (铅).
  • This pencil has a graphite core (铅笔芯).
  • Lead-acid batteries are common in cars (铅酸电池).
  • Lead poisoning is a serious health concern (铅中毒).

Collocations

  • Lead metal(铅)
  • Pencil(铅笔)
  • Lead-acid battery(铅酸电池)
  • Lead poisoning(铅中毒)
  • Lead alloy(铅合金)
  • Lead weight(铅坠)

Idioms

  • To forge ahead despite difficulties(铅刀一割)
  • To have a heavy heart like lead(心如铅坠)
  • To write with a clumsy brush(握铅抱椠)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Lead was historically used in China for coins, weights, and seals due to its malleability.
  • In traditional Chinese medicine, lead compounds were occasionally used, though toxicity was recognized.
  • The character appears in historical texts describing metallurgy and alchemical practices.

FAQ