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March 24, 2026
粮(糧)liáng(liang2)
The character 粮 (liáng) refers to grain or food, particularly in the context of provisions or staple crops. It is commonly used to discuss agricultural products and can also denote the agricultural tax historically paid in grain. This term highlights the importance of grain in sustenance and economy in Chinese culture.
Strokes13Radical米Frequency#11990DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In ancient China, grain was not only a staple food but also a crucial part of the tax system, which often involved paying taxes in grain. This underscores the historical significance of agriculture in Chinese society.
Memory Tip
Imagine a big bowl of rice (which is a type of grain) surrounded by a field of golden wheat. The character 粮 has the radical for grain (米) at the bottom, reminding you that it relates to food. The pronunciation 'liáng' can be thought of as 'liang' like 'longing' for food.
Meanings of 粮
liáng(liang2)
1grain
2food
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 粮
粮Simplified
糧Traditional
13Strokes
米Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#11990Frequency Rank
Podcast: 粮
Podcast: 粮
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AI Study Notes for 粮
Quick Contrast
谷 (gǔ) refers specifically to grains or cereals, while 粮 (liáng) encompasses a broader range of food provisions, including processed forms.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 粮 with similar characters that also denote food but have different contexts. It is typically used in a formal context related to agriculture or economics. Common collocations include 粮食 (liángshí - food or grain) and 粮价 (liángjià - grain price).
HSK Study Tips
While 粮 is not included in the official HSK vocabulary lists, it relates to themes of food and agriculture found in HSK levels 3 and 4. Students should focus on understanding its role in agricultural discussions and how it connects to words like 食品 (shípǐn - food products) and 饮食 (yǐnshí - diet).
Common Mistakes
Learners may mistakenly use 粮 to refer to all food types, but it specifically relates to grain. For example, saying '我想吃粮' (Wǒ xiǎng chī liáng - I want to eat grain) is awkward; it should be '我想吃米饭' (Wǒ xiǎng chī mǐfàn - I want to eat rice) for a more natural expression.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 粮
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Phonosemantic compound. 米 represents the meaning and 良 represents the sound. Simplified form of 糧.
1The meaning half米 carries the sense.
2The sound half良 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawaygrain
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 粮? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 粮?
Decomposition of 粮
IDS Structure⿰米良
粮Full Character
=
米Mi3
left
良liang2
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 粮?
How to say grain in Chinese
“grain” in Chinese is粮liáng
The character 粮 (liáng) refers to grain or food, particularly in the context of provisions or staple crops. It is commonly used to discuss agricultural products and can also denote the agricultural tax historically paid in grain. This term highlights the importance of grain in sustenance and economy in Chinese culture.
When to use 粮
Be careful not to confuse 粮 with similar characters that also denote food but have different contexts. It is typically used in a formal context related to agriculture or economics. Common collocations include 粮食 (liángshí - food or grain) and 粮价 (liángjià - grain price).
粮 or something close to it
谷 (gǔ) refers specifically to grains or cereals, while 粮 (liáng) encompasses a broader range of food provisions, including processed forms.
What learners get wrong
Learners may mistakenly use 粮 to refer to all food types, but it specifically relates to grain. For example, saying '我想吃粮' (Wǒ xiǎng chī liáng - I want to eat grain) is awkward; it should be '我想吃米饭' (Wǒ xiǎng chī mǐfàn - I want to eat rice) for a more natural expression.
Write 粮
粮
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Practice writing 粮 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 粮
粮 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 4 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.
