How to Write 硒 (xī) — Meaning “Selenium”

Imagine a rock (石) in the western (西) desert that contains selenium, a mineral important for health. The picture of a "Western rock" can help you recall both the shape and meaning of 硒.

When writing 硒, first write the left radical 石 with 5 strokes: horizontal, left-falling, horizontal, vertical, horizontal. Then add 西 on the right with 6 strokes: horizontal, vertical, horizontal fold, horizontal, vertical, horizontal. A common mistake is to make the right side too wide, so keep both parts balanced.

硒 (xī, selenium) has the right component 西, while 砂 (shā, sand) uses 少 and 砉 (huā, a splitting sound) uses 丰. Although all three share the 石 radical, their right parts change both the pronunciation and meaning, so pay close attention to those details.

硒 appears in words like 硒鼓 (xī gǔ, toner cartridge) and 富硒 (fù xī, selenium-rich) on food labels. It is also common in health contexts, such as 补硒 (bǔ xī, taking selenium supplements), because selenium is an essential trace element in human nutrition.

Common words containing 硒 include: 硒鼓 (xī gǔ) — Toner cartridge; 富硒 (fù xī) — selenium-rich; 补硒 (bǔ xī) — Selenium supplement.