朊 (ruǎn) · protein (older biochemistry term)

Meanings

1 protein (older biochemistry term)

Characters

朊

ruǎn

protein

Examples

HSK 6

朊是蛋白质的旧称呼。

Ruǎn shì dànbáizhì de jiù chēnghu.

朊 is an old biochemistry word for protein.

HSK 7-9

引起疯牛病的是朊病毒。

Yǐnqǐ fēngniúbìng de shì ruǎnbìngdú.

The prion that causes mad cow disease is called 'prion protein'.

Tips

usage

朊 is an older single-character word for protein; modern Chinese normally says 蛋白质. It survives in the technical term 朊病毒 (prion, the misfolded protein behind mad cow disease).

Components

radical

⺼ ròu

meat; flesh

The meat-flesh radical ⺼ (not the moon 月) marks this as a body/biological-tissue word, appropriate for protein, the building block of flesh.

phonetic

元 yuán

origin; basic unit

元 supplies the sound (shifted from yuán to ruǎn); its 'basic unit' sense loosely suits protein as a fundamental building block.

Stroke Order

朊 ruǎn

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older male patrilineal cousin (father's brother's son who is older than you)

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elder brother / respectful address for an older male