碘

iodine

Strokes13

Readings

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碘 centers on the chemical element iodine. It is a specialized character with no common abstract extensions.

碘 is a modern coined character for iodine, combining the stone radical 石 (used for solid elements) with 典, which likely contributes the sound テン.

The stone radical 石 suggests a solid mineral, and 典 gives the sound. Picture a dark crystalline stone that turns out to be iodine.

For テン, imagine ten drops of iodine solution: ten -> テン, and the stone-like crystals dissolve into the liquid.