元素
yuán sù HSK 6

English Meaning

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📚 Example Sentences

氧气是重要的化学元素。
Yǎngqì shì zhòngyào de huàxué yuánsù.
Oxygen is an important chemical element.
这个计划缺少关键元素。
Zhège jìhuà quēshǎo guānjiàn yuánsù.
This plan lacks a key component.
文化元素丰富了城市生活。
Wénhuà yuánsù fēngfù le chéngshì shēnghuó.
Cultural elements enrich urban life.
水是重要元素。
Shuǐ shì zhòngyào yuánsù.
Water is an important element.
铁是一种金属元素。
Tiě shì yī zhǒng jīnshǔ yuánsù.
Iron is a metallic element.

💡 Memory Tip

Break down the characters: 元 (yuán) means 'primary' or 'first,' and 素 (sù) means 'basic' or 'element.' Think of it as the 'primary basic' part of something. Associate it with the periodic table in chemistry, where elements are the building blocks of matter.

📝 Usage Notes

This word is neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, though it is more common in written and academic language. It appears frequently in discussions about science (e.g., chemistry), art, literature, design, and technology to describe core components or features.

📖 Grammar Points

元素 is typically used as a noun and often follows an adjective or another noun in a modifier-noun structure (e.g., 幽默的元素, 化学元素). It can be the subject or object in a sentence and is commonly paired with verbs like 包含 (contain), 融入 (blend into), or 具有 (possess).

🏯 Cultural Notes

In modern Chinese culture, 元素 is widely used in creative and technological fields to discuss blending traditional and contemporary aspects, such as incorporating cultural elements into design or media. It reflects a focus on foundational qualities in analysis and innovation.

🔄 Similar Words

Similar words include 成分 (chéngfèn), which means 'ingredient' or 'component' and is often used for tangible mixtures like food or materials, and 因素 (yīnsù), meaning 'factor' and focusing on influences or causes. 元素 emphasizes a more fundamental, intrinsic part of a whole, especially in scientific or structural contexts.

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