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March 24, 2026
茨cí(ci2)
The character 茨 (cí) primarily refers to thatching, which is a traditional roofing material made from dried plant materials such as straw or reeds. It can also denote the caltrop plant (Tribulus terrestris), known for its spiky seed pods. In certain contexts, it can imply the act of covering a roof with thatch.
Strokes9Radical艹Frequency#10768DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
Thatching is an ancient roofing technique still used in some rural areas of China, reflecting traditional building practices and the importance of local materials in architecture. The caltrop plant is often associated with traditional herbal medicine in Chinese culture.
Memory Tip
Imagine a roof covered in straw (thatching) with sharp caltrop plants poking out. The character 茨 looks like a roof (亠) with grass (艹) on top, suggesting it is something that grows and is used for roofing.
Meanings of 茨
cí(ci2)
1thatching; caltrop, Tribulus terrestris
2Caltrop or puncture vine (Tribulus terrestris)
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
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About 茨
茨Simplified
9Strokes
艹Radical
地名míngcíplace name (p.n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 茨
Podcast: 茨
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AI Study Notes for 茨
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a roof covered in straw (thatching) with sharp caltrop plants poking out. The character 茨 looks like a roof (亠) with grass (艹) on top, suggesting it is something that grows and is used for roofing.
Usage Notes
While 茨 can be used to refer to thatching, it is less commonly used in everyday conversation, making it more suitable for formal or literary contexts. Be cautious with pronunciation, as misplacing the tone can lead to confusion with other similar-sounding words.
HSK Study Tips
Although 茨 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, understanding it can enhance comprehension of related terms in advanced studies, particularly those involving traditional architecture or botany in Chinese. Focus on the character's radicals and how they contribute to its meaning.
Cultural Note
Thatching is an ancient roofing technique still used in some rural areas of China, reflecting traditional building practices and the importance of local materials in architecture. The caltrop plant is often associated with traditional herbal medicine in Chinese culture.
Common Mistakes
Learners might confuse 茨 with similar characters, such as 茶 (tea) or 词 (word). For example, saying '我喜欢茨' (I like thatching) instead of '我喜欢茶' (I like tea) is a common mistake due to their phonetic similarity.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 茨
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Grammar Patterns of 茨
茨 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 3 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
他的目的地是乔伯姆公地，那里和他在科____沃尔德的家离得很远。
His destination was Chobham Common, a long way from his Cotswold home.
Example Sentences for 茨 (10)
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1
他的目的地是乔伯姆公地，那里和他在科茨沃尔德的家离得很远。
tā de mù de dì shì qiáo bó mǔ gōng dì， ， nà lǐ hé tā zài kē cí wò ěr dé de jiā lí dé hěn。
His destination was Chobham Common, a long way from his Cotswold home.
Gates responds with a lengthy discourse on deployment strategy.
9
20世纪最了不起的辩论家非列昂·托洛茨基莫属。
20 20 shì jì zuì le bù qǐ de biàn lùn jiā fēi liè· áng · tuō luò cí jī。
The greatest polemicist of the 20th century must be Leon Trotsky.
10
他最近为菲茨威廉建成的小教堂赢得了好评。
tā zuì jìn wéi fēi cí wēi lián jiàn chéng de xiǎo jiào táng yíng dé le hǎo píng。
His recently completed chapel for Fitzwilliam is attracting favourable comment.
Cultural Notes for 茨
🏮Cultural insight
Thatching is an ancient roofing technique still used in some rural areas of China, reflecting traditional building practices and the importance of local materials in architecture. The caltrop plant is often associated with traditional herbal medicine in Chinese culture.
Word Family of 茨
Words Containing This Character12
茨cíto thatch (a roof)
盖茨Gates (name)蓋茨
波茨坦Potsdam, near Berlin, Germany
罗伯茨Roberts羅伯茨
霍格沃茨Hogwarts (Harry Potter)
博茨瓦纳Botswana博茨瓦納
阿尔茨海默Alois Alzheimer (1864-1915), German psychiatrist and neuropathologist阿爾茨海默
萨尔茨堡Salzburg薩爾茨堡
菲茨杰拉德Fitzgerald (name)菲茨傑拉德
托洛茨基Leon Davidovich Trotsky (1879-1940), early Bolshevik leader, exiled by Stalin in 1929 and murdered in 1940託洛茨基
伊尔库茨克Irkutsk伊爾庫茨克
盖茨比Gatsby蓋茨比
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 茨 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 茨
The caltrop plant is recognized for its medicinal properties and is often used in traditional Chinese medicine.
No, 茨 is more often found in literary or formal contexts rather than in everyday dialogue.
