碳 tàn carbon
How to remember 碳: 石 stone + 炭 carbon = carbon. The chemistry teacher holds up a black stone made of pure carbon and says diamonds are just the same carbon.
Component breakdown
碳 = 石 stone + 炭 carbon
- 石 stone
- 炭 carbon
The chemistry teacher holds up a black stone made of pure carbon and says diamonds are just the same carbon.
How it is used
- Carbon (the element) - 碳排放 (tàn páifàng) carbon emissions, 低碳 (dītàn) low-carbon.
- 二氧化碳 (èryǎnghuàtàn) = carbon dioxide; 碳水化合物 = carbohydrates.
- Note: 碳 (石 stone radical) = the chemical element carbon; distinguish from 炭 (火) = charcoal.
- 碳中和 (tàn zhōnghé) = carbon neutrality - a current environmental buzzword.