Chinese word dictionary

元素

yuánsù · element (key component of sth); (chemistry) element; (math.) element (member of a set)

Practice word

Word information

Simplified元素

Traditional元素

Pinyinyuánsù

Part of speech名

HSK 3.06

HSK 2.06

Character breakdown

Study each Hanzi separately, then return to the complete word so pronunciation, meaning, and movement stay connected.

元yuán

first; dollar; origin; head

素sù

plain; white; vegetarian; formerly; normally

How to learn 元素

Listen once without reading, repeat the pinyin with its tones, then write every character in sequence. Finally, recall the complete meaning instead of memorizing each character as an isolated translation.

When the word appears in a sentence, check whether its part of speech and meaning match the definition shown here. Chinese words can change nuance with context.

Related vocabulary

Words with the same characters

Compare how a familiar Hanzi changes meaning inside another word.

元yuán

currency unit (esp. Chinese yuan); (bound form) first; original; primary; (bound form) basic; fundamental; (bound form) constituent; part; (prefix) meta-; (math.) argument; variable; era (of a reign); (Tw) (geology) eon; surname Yuan; Yuan dynasty (1279–1368)

单元dānyuán

unit (forming an entity); element; (in a residential building) entrance or staircase

因素yīnsù

element; factor; CL:個|个[ge4]

元旦Yuándàn

New Year's Day

多元duōyuán

poly-; multi-; multielement; multivariant; multivariate (math.)

公元gōngyuán

CE (Common Era); Christian Era; AD (Anno Domini)