硝 (xiāo) — saltpeter, niter | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

硝 (xiāo) as a noun refers to saltpeter (potassium nitrate), a key ingredient in gunpowder and also used in leather tanning. In compounds like 硝石 (niter) and 硝烟 (gunpowder smoke), it carries this chemical meaning. Note that 硝 also has a verb sense 'to taw' (to treat hides), but that is a separate word class; this entry covers the noun only.

saltpeterniter

Examples

硝。
Gǔdài Zhōngguó yòng xiāo zhìzào huǒyào.
Ancient China used saltpeter to make gunpowder.
硝。
Zhè zhǒng xiāo kěyǐ yòng lái chǔlǐ pígé.
This kind of saltpeter can be used to treat leather.
，硝。
Zài shíyànshì lǐ, xiāo shì yì zhǒng chángjiàn de huàxué yàopǐn.
In the laboratory, saltpeter is a common chemical.

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.