錆 (qiāng) - Patina — refers to the oxidation or tarnish

錆Tone 1

qiāng ｜ 16 strokes ｜ radical:

器情

錆 · qiāng

Patina — refers to the oxidation or tarnish that forms on the surface of metals, especially copper, bronze, or similar alloys, often creating a greenish or bluish film.

Patina — refers to the oxidation or tarnish

Usage highlights

Bronze patinaCopper patinaMetal patinaGreen patinaArtificial patinaPatina formation

Synonyms

  • 锈— rust (more common in Chinese)
  • 酸化— oxidation
  • サビ— rust (Japanese reading)

Antonyms

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The bronze statue has developed a beautiful green patina (青铜錆).
  • Copper roofs often acquire a blue-green patina over time (铜錆).
  • The antique sword shows signs of patina (刀の錆).
  • Artists sometimes artificially create patina effects (人工錆).

Collocations

  • Bronze patina(青铜錆)
  • Copper patina(铜錆)
  • Metal patina(金属錆)
  • Green patina(緑錆)
  • Artificial patina(人工錆)
  • Patina formation(錆発生)

Idioms

  • The patina of time(時の錆)
  • Rust never sleeps(錆は眠らない)
  • To remove the patina of ages(永年の錆を落とす)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In Japanese aesthetics, patina (sabi) is often appreciated as a sign of age and natural beauty, particularly in tea ceremony utensils and antique metalwork.
  • The character is primarily used in Japanese (as 錆) rather than in modern standard Chinese, where 锈 is more common for 'rust'.
  • In metal conservation, patina can be both protected as a historical layer or removed as corrosion depending on context.

FAQ