‘元素’ (yuán sù) literally combines 元 (yuán), meaning 'primary', 'fundamental', or 'origin', and 素 (sù), meaning 'element', 'ingredient', or 'basic substance'. Together, they form the standard term for 'chemical element'—a pure substance consisting of atoms with the same atomic number, such as oxygen (氧元素) or iron (铁元素). It is used widely in science education, medicine, nutrition, and environmental discussions.

In broader contexts, 元素 can also mean 'component' or 'essential part'—for example, in art ('design elements') or culture ('cultural elements')—but in everyday speech and textbooks, it most commonly refers to chemical elements. It appears frequently in compound terms like 化学元素 (chemical element), 微量元素 (trace element), and 有害元素 (harmful element), especially when discussing health, food safety, or environmental science.