How to Write 钨 (wū) — Meaning “Tungsten”

Think of the right side 乌 as a crow (a black bird), and imagine a crow made of heavy tungsten metal. This connects the sound 'wū' (like crow's call) with the metal meaning, making it easier to recall.

Write the left radical 钅 first: three horizontal strokes, then a vertical hook, and two short left-falling strokes. Then add the right part 乌: begin with a left-falling stroke, then three horizontals and a vertical hook. A common mistake is forgetting the final hook in 乌.

While all three use the metal radical 钅, 钨 specifically means the metal tungsten. 针 means 'needle' and 钉 means 'nail' or 'spike'; both refer to common objects, not chemical elements. Visually, the right side differs: 钨 has 乌, 针 has 十, and 钉 has 丁.

钨 is used in scientific and industrial contexts for the metal tungsten, such as in 钨丝 (tungsten filament) for light bulbs and 钨钢 (tungsten steel) for tools. It is not common in daily conversation, but it appears in technical reports and manufacturing discussions.

Common words containing 钨 include: 钨丝 (wū sī) — Tungsten filament; 钨钢 (wū gāng) — Tungsten steel; 钨矿 (wū kuàng) — Tungsten ore.