How to Write 铹 (láo) — Meaning “Lawrencium”

Imagine a worker (劳) using a metal detector (钅) to discover a rare element. The picture of a laborer finding a special metal can help you remember that 铹 stands for lawrencium, a synthetic element.

Write the radical 钅 first with 5 strokes: a left-falling stroke, then three horizontal strokes, and a vertical stroke. Then write 劳 with 7 strokes: start with the grass radical 艹, then 冖 (a cover), and finally 力 (power). Pay attention to the proportions: 钅 should be narrower than 劳, and the bottom 力 should be balanced under the cover.

铹 (láo) means lawrencium and uses the metal radical 钅 with the phonetic 劳. 钰 (yù) means a precious stone and uses the jade radical 玉; it's often used in names. 钱 (qián) means money and uses the metal radical 钅 with the phonetic 戋. Visually, 铹 has a taller right side (劳) compared to 钰 (玉) and 钱 (戋).

铹 is used almost exclusively in scientific and chemical contexts to refer to the synthetic element lawrencium (atomic number 103). It appears in terms like 铹元素 (the element lawrencium) and in discussions of nuclear chemistry. This character is not part of everyday vocabulary and is primarily encountered in textbooks or research materials.

Common words containing 铹 include: 铹元素 (láo yuán sù) — The element lawrencium; 发现铹 (fā xiàn láo) — to discover lawrencium; 铹的性质 (láo de xìng zhì) — Properties of lawrencium.