Back to dictionary
JLPT N112画 · 12 strokesradical 石freq #1867

sulphur

On'yomi (音読み)

  • リュウ

Kun'yomi (訓読み)

Mnemonic

Imagine a giant stone (石) that oozes bright yellow sulphur (硫) like a bubbling volcano, reminding you of this element's fiery nature.

About this kanji

The kanji 硫 (りゅう) primarily means "sulphur," which is a chemical element known for its distinct yellow color and is often used in various industrial processes. This kanji is mostly used in compounds rather than as a standalone word. Some common compounds include 硫黄 (いおう), which means "sulfur" and is often seen in chemical contexts, 硫酸 (りゅうさん), meaning "sulfuric acid," a strong acid used in batteries, and 脱硫 (だつりゅう), which refers to "desulfurization," a process of removing sulfur compounds. Note that 硫 does not have a kun'yomi, so you'll mainly encounter it in these compounds.

Example sentences

  • 硫酸は危険な化学物質だ。

    Sulfuric acid is a dangerous chemical.

Meanings across languages

English
sulphur
Tiếng Việt
lưu huỳnh
日本語
硫, 硫黄
한국어
황, 유황
中文
硫, 硫磺
id
belerang
th
กำมะถัน
es
azufre
fr
soufre
de
Schwefel
pt
enxofre

Common compounds

  • 硫黄いおうsulfur (S), sulphur
  • 脱硫だつりゅうdesulfurization, desulphurisation, desulphurization
  • 硫酸りゅうさんsulfuric acid, sulphuric acid
  • 硫化りゅうかsulfuration, sulphuration
  • 硫安りゅうあんammonium sulfate
  • 亜硫酸ガスありゅうさんガスsulphurous acid gas, sulfurous acid gas, sulphur dioxide gas
  • 加硫かりゅうvulcanizing (rubber)
  • 亜硫酸ありゅうさんsulfurous acid, sulphurous acid

Want to actually learn this kanji?

The dictionary is one view. The Kanji 360 app wraps every character with mnemonic images, audio readings, stroke-order animation, story context, and SRS scheduling — free to start on iPhone, iPad, and Android.