铜 (tóng) means 'copper,' the reddish-brown metallic element. It is used in scientific, industrial, and everyday contexts. It appears in compound words such as 铜线 (copper wire) and 青铜 (bronze).
这条铜线已经用了很多年了。
Zhè tiáo tóng xiàn yǐjīng yòng le hěn duō nián le.
This copper wire has been used for many years.
古代人很早就学会了用铜制作工具。
Gǔdài rén hěn zǎo jiù xuéhuì le yòng tóng zhìzuò gōngjù.
Ancient people learned to make tools with copper very early on.
铜的导电性能非常好,常用来做电线。
tóng de dǎo diàn xìng néng fēi cháng hǎo, cháng yòng lái zuò diàn xiàn.
Copper has excellent electrical conductivity and is often used to make wires.