硝 meaning and stroke order
Saltpeter; to tan leather
How to write 硝, stroke by stroke
12 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
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Meaning of 硝
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- saltpeter
- to tan (leather)
How 硝 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Mineral.
石 gives the meaning and 肖 hints at the sound.
Radical: 石 (stone), shared by 114 characters on this site.
How to remember 硝
硝 is a mineral, so it has 石 (shí, stone) on the left. The right side 肖 (xiào) gives the sound, and 硝 is read xiāo, close to it.
硝 appears mostly in words for chemicals and minerals, such as 硝石 (xiāoshí, saltpeter) and 硝酸 (xiāosuān, nitric acid). It also means to tan leather, as in 硝皮子 (xiāo pízi). Example: 火药里有硝石。(Huǒyào lǐ yǒu xiāoshí.) Gunpowder contains saltpeter.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 硝 with 销 (xiāo, to sell or melt) and 消 (xiāo, to disappear). All three share 肖 and the sound xiāo. Remember that only 硝, with 石, is about minerals and chemicals.
硝 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 硝
How many strokes are in 硝?
硝 is written with 12 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 硝 mean?
硝 (xiāo) means saltpeter; to tan leather.
How do you pronounce 硝?
硝 is pronounced xiāo, in the first tone (high and level).
What is the radical of 硝?
The radical of 硝 is 石, which carries the idea of "stone". Dictionaries list 硝 under this radical.
What does 硝烟 mean?
硝烟 (xiāoyān) means gunpowder smoke. It is often used to describe battle or conflict, as in 没有硝烟的战争 (a war without gunpowder smoke), meaning a fierce but non-military competition.
Is 硝 the same as 硝酸?
No. 硝 alone is saltpeter or a related nitrate salt. 硝酸 (xiāosuān) is nitric acid, an acid made from nitrogen compounds.