How to Write 钶 (kē) — Meaning “columbium (niobium)”

Think of the right part 可 (kě) as meaning "able" — so 钶 is the metal that is "able" to form many alloys. Or imagine a metal key (钅) that says "kě" to unlock the element columbium.

Write the radical 钅 first, with its three horizontal strokes getting progressively shorter and the final stroke a vertical hook. Then add 可 on the right: the horizontal stroke should be level, and the 口 box must be slightly narrower than the top part, not too wide.

钶 (kē) means columbium/niobium, 钍 (tǔ) means thorium, and 钎 (qiān) means drill rod or brazing rod. Visually, 钍 has 土 (earth) on the right, 钎 has 千 (thousand) on the right, while 钶 has 可 (kě). The pronunciation and chemical element are completely different.

钶 appears mainly in scientific and industrial contexts, such as 钶元素 (the element columbium), 钶铁 (ferroniobium), and 钶矿 (columbite ore). It is not common in daily life, but you may encounter it in chemistry textbooks or materials science articles about rare metals.

Common words containing 钶 include: 钶元素 (kē yuán sù) — the element columbium; 钶铁 (kē tiě) — ferroniobium; 钶矿 (kē kuàng) — columbite / columbium ore.