Definition

1. Noun:
   • Graphite: A form of nearly pure carbon, which is soft, black, and leaves a mark on paper. It is used in pencils, as a lubricant, and in various industrial applications.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Ruột bút chì được làm từ than chì. (Pencil leads are made from graphite.)
  • Than chì là một chất dẫn điện tốt. (Graphite is a good conductor of electricity.)
  • Khoáng vật này chứa nhiều than chì. (This mineral contains a lot of graphite.)

Advanced Usage

• Technical/Industrial Context: In scientific and industrial texts, "than chì" is used to refer to the specific allotrope of carbon with a crystalline structure.
  • Than chì được sử dụng làm điện cực trong pin. (Graphite is used as an electrode in batteries.)

Variants and Related Words

• Graphite (English): The direct and most common English equivalent.
• Chì (Lead): While "chì" alone means "lead" (the metal), the compound "than chì" specifically means "graphite." Historically, the core of pencils was mistakenly thought to be lead, hence the name.
• Bút chì (Pencil): A writing tool whose "lead" is actually made of graphite ("than chì").

Synonyms

• Plumbago (archaic/mineralogical): An older or mineralogical term for graphite.
• Black lead (historical): A historical term reflecting the mistaken identity of the material.

Related Phrases/Compounds

• Mỏ than chì (Graphite mine): A mine where graphite is extracted.
  • Họ làm việc tại một mỏ than chì. (They work at a graphite mine.)
• Bột than chì (Graphite powder): Powdered form of graphite, often used as a lubricant.
  • Bột than chì giúp giảm ma sát. (Graphite powder helps reduce friction.)

noun

1. graphite