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March 24, 2026
植zhí(zhi2)
The character 植 (zhí) primarily means 'to plant' or 'to grow,' and it is often used in contexts related to botany or agriculture. It can refer to the act of planting trees or other vegetation, as well as the growth process of plants. In broader contexts, it may also symbolize the idea of establishing or nurturing something.
Strokes12Radical木Frequency#6335DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, planting trees is often associated with environmental stewardship and is a practice encouraged during special occasions, such as Arbor Day. The act of planting is seen as a way to contribute to the earth and future generations.
Memory Tip
Imagine a gardener with a shovel (the radical 木 for 'wood' or 'tree') planting seeds in the ground. The character 植 contains this radical, indicating its connection to plants. Picture the gardener saying 'zhí!' as they plant each seed, linking the sound to the action of planting.
Meanings of 植
zhí(zhi2)
1to plant
2tree, plant; to grow
Exercise 1 of 3
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 植
植Simplified
12Strokes
木Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#6335Frequency Rank
Podcast: 植
Podcast: 植
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AI Study Notes for 植
Quick Contrast
种 (zhǒng) - use 植 when emphasizing the act of planting or growing, while 种 focuses more on the type or variety of plants.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a gardener with a shovel (the radical 木 for 'wood' or 'tree') planting seeds in the ground. The character 植 contains this radical, indicating its connection to plants. Picture the gardener saying 'zhí!' as they plant each seed, linking the sound to the action of planting.
Usage Notes
Be cautious not to confuse 植 with similar-sounding words. It is used in both formal and informal contexts, often in discussions about gardening or agriculture. Common collocations include 植树 (zhí shù, 'to plant trees') and 植物 (zhí wù, 'plants').
HSK Study Tips
Although 植 is not part of the HSK vocabulary lists, it relates to other HSK words involving nature and cultivation, such as 树 (shù, 'tree') and 草 (cǎo, 'grass'). Focus on how 植 can be used in compound words to enhance vocabulary.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, planting trees is often associated with environmental stewardship and is a practice encouraged during special occasions, such as Arbor Day. The act of planting is seen as a way to contribute to the earth and future generations.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 植 with other similar characters like 直 (zhí, 'straight'). For example, saying 植直 instead of 植树 (to plant trees) is incorrect. Remember that 植 specifically relates to planting and growth.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 植
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Grammar Patterns of 植
植 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
她种了很多我不熟悉的奇妙____物。
She grew many wonderful plants that were unfamiliar to me.
Common Confusions with 植
植vs执
zhí
Same pronunciation but different meaning
植vs直
zhí
Same pronunciation but different meaning
Exercise 1 of 1
Spot the Difference
Which character means "to plant"?
or
Example Sentences for 植 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
她种了很多我不熟悉的奇妙植物。
tā zhǒng le hěn duō wǒ bù shú xī de qí miào zhí wù。
She grew many wonderful plants that were unfamiliar to me.
2
这种植物被用作治疗神经痛时的镇静药。
zhè zhǒng zhí wù bèi yòng zuò zhì liáo shén jīng tòng shí de zhèn jìng yào。
The plant acts as a sedative in treating neuralgia.
3
两天以后，他们把受精卵重新植入了我的体内。
liǎng tiān yǐ hòu， ， tā mén bǎ shòu jīng luǎn zhòng xīn zhí rù le wǒ de tǐ。
Two days later, they implanted the fertilized eggs back inside me.
4
这本书包括了有关动植物的一些有用的知识。
zhè běn shū bāo kuò le yǒu guān dòng zhí wù de yī xiē yǒu yòng de zhī shí。
The book includes some useful facts about animal and plant life.
5
他们验明6种植物有可能提炼出药物麻醉剂。
tā mén yàn míng6 6 zhǒng zhí wù yǒu kě néng tí liàn chū yào wù má zuì。
They identified six plants as having potential for development into pharmaceutical drugs.
6
这种植物适应了这个环境，在草中生长得很好。
zhè zhǒng zhí wù shì yīng le zhè gè huán jìng， ， zài cǎo zhōng shēng cháng dé hěn。
The plant naturalises well in grass.
7
你得自己把那株植物挖出来。
nǐ dé zì jǐ bǎ nà zhū zhí wù wā chū lái。
You would have to dig up the plant yourself.
8
卡斯尔步行街那一地段的植被不是很厚密。
kǎ sī ěr bù háng jiē nà yī dì duàn de zhí bèi bù shì hěn hòu mì。
That part of Castle Walk is not thickly vegetated.
mù shī huì qīn hài huó tǐ zhí wù bìng kěn yǎo tā mén de jīng。
Woodlice attack living plants and gnaw at the stems.
Cultural Notes for 植
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, planting trees is often associated with environmental stewardship and is a practice encouraged during special occasions, such as Arbor Day. The act of planting is seen as a way to contribute to the earth and future generations.
Word Family of 植
Words Containing This Character20
植物zhíwùplant
移植yízhíto transplant
种植zhòngzhíto plant種植
植zhíto plant
植入to implant
植物人human vegetable
植被vegetation
植树to plant trees植樹
动植物plants and animals動植物
植物园arboretum植物園
培植to cultivate
植株plant (horticulture)
植物油vegetable oil
种植园plantation種植園
扶植to foster
种植业plantation種植業
植物学botany植物學
栽植to plant
植皮to graft skin
密植close planting
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 植物 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 植
Yes, 植 (zhí) is often found in phrases like '植物学' (zhíwùxué), which means 'botany' or 'the study of plants.' It emphasizes the importance of plants and their role in ecology and daily life.
To use 植 (zhí) in a sentence, you could say '我想种植一些花' (Wǒ xiǎng zhòng zhí yīxiē huā), which means 'I want to plant some flowers.' It can also be used in phrases like '植物的生长' (zhíwù de shēngzhǎng), meaning 'the growth of plants.'
植 (zhí) means 'to plant' or 'to grow.' It is commonly used in contexts related to botany, agriculture, and gardening. The character also relates to trees and plants, signifying the action of planting them.
It is pronounced 'zhí' with a rising tone.
Yes, it can be used when talking about gardening or nature.
Some common phrases include 植树 (to plant trees) and 植物 (plants).
