Meanings of 菌
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 菌
Podcast: 菌
Podcast: 菌
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 菌
霉 (méi) refers specifically to mold, while 菌 (jūn) encompasses a broader range of microorganisms, including bacteria and fungi.
Be mindful of the tone when pronouncing 菌; it should be pronounced as 'jūn' with a high level tone. A common mistake is confusing 菌 with '菌类' (jūn lèi), which means 'fungi' or 'mushroom types', as learners might omit the classifier.
Although 菌 is not in the HSK levels, it connects to other HSK vocabulary related to health and food, such as 食品 (shípǐn, food) and 健康 (jiànkāng, health). Focus on recognizing its usage in scientific contexts.
Learners often mispronounce 菌 as 'jun' instead of 'jūn', altering its meaning. Additionally, confusing it with similar characters like 虫 (chóng, insect) can lead to misunderstandings in context.
Pronunciation of 菌
Drill the tone of 菌 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Etymology of 菌
plant
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 菌
- 1The meaning half艹 carries the sense.
- 2The sound half囷 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
- 3The giveawayplant
- 4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 菌? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 菌?
Decomposition of 菌
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 菌?
How to say germ in Chinese
“germ” in Chinese is菌
The character 菌 (jūn) primarily refers to germs, bacteria, or fungi, including mushrooms and molds. It is commonly used in contexts related to biology, health, and food, particularly when discussing microorganisms or edible fungi.
When to use 菌
Be mindful of the tone when pronouncing 菌; it should be pronounced as 'jūn' with a high level tone. A common mistake is confusing 菌 with '菌类' (jūn lèi), which means 'fungi' or 'mushroom types', as learners might omit the classifier.
菌 or something close to it
霉 (méi) refers specifically to mold, while 菌 (jūn) encompasses a broader range of microorganisms, including bacteria and fungi.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mispronounce 菌 as 'jun' instead of 'jūn', altering its meaning. Additionally, confusing it with similar characters like 虫 (chóng, insect) can lead to misunderstandings in context.
Write 菌
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 菌 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 菌
菌 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 8 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.
Complete the Sentence
如果潮湿发霉的建筑令你生病了，霉____很可能是病因。
If damp, musty buildings make you ill, mould is probably the cause.
Example Sentences for 菌 (10)
Cultural Notes for 菌
In Western cultures, bacteria are often regarded solely as harmful, while in Chinese culture, certain types of fungi are celebrated as nutritious food sources, highlighting a more diverse view of microorganisms.
Word Family of 菌
Compound Meaning
What does 细菌 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 菌
It translates to 'germ', 'bacteria', or 'fungus', commonly used in biological contexts.
Jason Recommends
Not sure what to learn after 菌?
Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.