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耔 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
耔zǐto hoe the soil around one's plantsx, 9 strokes, radical 耒
耔zǐhoe up soil around plantsunknown, 9 strokes, radical 耒
zǐ(zi3) T3
  1. 1to hoe the soil around one's plants
  2. 2hoe up soil around plants
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

耔zǐ(zi3)

The character 耔 (zǐ) refers to the action of hoeing soil around plants to aid their growth. This term is commonly used in agricultural contexts, particularly in discussions about farming practices and gardening. It implies a nurturing action that helps to aerate the soil and manage weeds.

Strokes9Radical耒
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese culture, agriculture is highly valued, and practices like hoeing are integral to farming success. The importance of careful soil management reflects the deep connection between the community and the land.

Memory Tip

Imagine a gardener (who cares for plants) using a hoe to dig around the roots, making sure they get enough air and nutrients. The character 耔 resembles a tool (the hoe) being used to dig into the earth, while the sound 'zǐ' can be remembered as 'zi' for 'zen-like care' for plants.

Meanings of 耔

zǐ(zi3)
1to hoe the soil around one's plants
2hoe up soil around plants
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 耔

耔Simplified
9Strokes
耒Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 耔

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Podcast: 耔

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AI Study Notes for 耔

Usage Notes

While 耔 is specific to hoeing, learners should note that it may not be commonly used in daily conversation. Its usage is more prevalent in agricultural texts or discussions. Avoid confusion with similar-sounding words like '子' (zǐ), which means 'child' or 'son.'

HSK Study Tips

Although 耔 is not part of HSK, it connects with agricultural vocabulary at HSK 3 and above, where students learn about farming and nature. Focus on understanding context and usage in agricultural discussions to reinforce vocabulary acquisition.

Common Mistakes

Learners might confuse 耔 with other characters that sound similar, such as 子 (zǐ) or 资 (zī). Remember that 耔 specifically pertains to gardening and hoeing, while 子 refers to children, and 资 relates to resources or capital.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 耔

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Etymology of 耔

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

plow

Semantic (meaning)耒
+
Phonetic (sound)子
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 耔

  1. 1The meaning half耒 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half子 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawayplow
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 耔? 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 耔?

Decomposition of 耔

IDS Structure⿰耒子
耔Full Character
=
耒lei3
left
子zi3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 耔?

How to say to hoe the soil around one's plants in Chinese

“to hoe the soil around one's plants” in Chinese is耔zǐ

The character 耔 (zǐ) refers to the action of hoeing soil around plants to aid their growth. This term is commonly used in agricultural contexts, particularly in discussions about farming practices and gardening. It implies a nurturing action that helps to aerate the soil and manage weeds.

When to use 耔

While 耔 is specific to hoeing, learners should note that it may not be commonly used in daily conversation. Its usage is more prevalent in agricultural texts or discussions. Avoid confusion with similar-sounding words like '子' (zǐ), which means 'child' or 'son.'

What learners get wrong

Learners might confuse 耔 with other characters that sound similar, such as 子 (zǐ) or 资 (zī). Remember that 耔 specifically pertains to gardening and hoeing, while 子 refers to children, and 资 relates to resources or capital.

Write 耔

耔

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

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Word Family of 耔

Words Containing This Character1
耔zǐhoe up soil around plants
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 耔 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 耔

No, 耔 is more specialized and may not be used frequently in everyday conversation.

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