氖
How to Say
How to Write
Meaning: neon
💡 Neon 'nǎi' sounds like 'night' – neon lights shine at night.
Compounds
Character Story & Explanation
氖 (nǎi) means 'neon', a noble gas. The radical 气 (qì, 'gas') indicates its gaseous nature, while 乃 (nǎi) provides phonetic cues. Neon signs, a symbol of modernity, entered China in the 1920s, and the character was created to transliterate the English word 'neon'. This reflects how Chinese adapts foreign concepts by combining meaning and sound.
Example Sentences
Common Compounds
Similar Characters — Don't Mix These Up
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