Skip to content
Start your Chinese Learning JourneyStart Now
秸 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
jiēstalks of millet or cornn, 11 strokes, radical 禾, rank #78727, Very Hard
jiēgrain stalks left after threshingunknown, 11 strokes, radical 禾, rank #78727, Very Hard
jiē(jie1) T1
  1. 1stalks of millet or corn
  2. 2grain stalks left after threshing
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
jiē(jie1)

The character 秸 (jiē) refers to the stalks or stems of crops like millet or corn, particularly those left after the grains have been harvested during threshing. It is commonly used in agricultural contexts and can denote leftover plant material that may be used for various purposes, such as animal feed or compost.

Strokes11RadicalFrequency#78727DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, agriculture has historically played a vital role, and terms like 秸 reflect the importance of crop management and sustainability, especially in rural communities where every part of the plant has utility.

Memory Tip

Imagine a tall stalk of corn waving in the breeze, its grains harvested, leaving the 秸 (jiē) behind. The character looks like a plant with its roots deep in the ground, suggesting its connection to agricultural life and the earth.

Meanings of 秸

jiē(jie1)
1stalks of millet or corn
2grain stalks left after threshing
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 秸

Simplified
11Strokes
Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 秸

JasonAmy

Podcast:

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 秸

Quick Contrast

秸 (jiē) vs 茎 (jīng): Use 秸 for leftover stalks after harvesting, while 茎 refers specifically to the stem of a plant.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a tall stalk of corn waving in the breeze, its grains harvested, leaving the 秸 (jiē) behind. The character looks like a plant with its roots deep in the ground, suggesting its connection to agricultural life and the earth.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 秸 (jiē) with similar-sounding words or characters, as it is specific to agricultural terms. It is generally used in more formal contexts related to farming and may not be commonly used in everyday conversation.

HSK Study Tips

Although 秸 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it connects with agricultural vocabulary that learners might encounter in level-specific materials. Focus on understanding the context of farming and related terms to grasp its usage better.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, agriculture has historically played a vital role, and terms like 秸 reflect the importance of crop management and sustainability, especially in rural communities where every part of the plant has utility.

Common Mistakes

Learners might confuse 秸 (jiē) with the word for grain itself, which is 粮 (liáng). For example, saying '我喜欢吃秸' (Wǒ xǐhuān chī jiē) which means 'I like to eat stalks' instead of using the correct term for grain.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 秸

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsInstant feedback+5 XP
See plans to unlock

Etymology of 秸

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 禾 represents the meaning and 吉 represents the sound. Simplified form of 稭.

Memory Hint

grain

Semantic (meaning)
+
Phonetic (sound)
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 秸?

Decomposition of 秸

IDS Structure⿰禾吉
Full Character
=
he2
left
Ji2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 秸?

Write 秸

Practice writing stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar Patterns of 秸

秸 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 1

Complete the Sentence

割完小麦后, 许多农夫把麦____烧掉,并把灰烬埋入土中, 以增加土壤肥力.

After the wheat crop has been gathered, many farmers burn the remains and plough the ash into the soil , so as to enrich the soil.

Example Sentences for 秸 (1)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
割完小麦后, 许多农夫把麦秸烧掉,并把灰烬埋入土中, 以增加土壤肥力.

gē wán xiǎo mài hòu, , xǔ duō nóng fū bǎ mài jiē shāo, diào , bìng bǎ huī jìn mái rù, tǔ zhōng , yǐ zēng jiā tǔ.

After the wheat crop has been gathered, many farmers burn the remains and plough the ash into the soil , so as to enrich the soil.

Cultural Notes for 秸

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, agriculture has historically played a vital role, and terms like 秸 reflect the importance of crop management and sustainability, especially in rural communities where every part of the plant has utility.

Word Family of 秸

Words Containing This Character3
秸秆straw秸稈
jiēgrain stalks left after threshing
麦秸straw from barley or wheat麥秸
Exercise 1 of 3

Compound Meaning

What does 秸秆 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 秸

It refers to the stalks of plants like millet or corn left after the grains have been harvested.