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薺 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
薺jìwater chestnut; water caltropx, 18 strokes, radical 艹
jì(ji4)ji T4
  1. 1water chestnut; water caltrop
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March 24, 2026

薺jì(ji4)

The character 薺 (jì) refers to a type of aquatic plant, commonly known as water chestnut or water caltrop. It is often used in Chinese cuisine, particularly in stir-fries and salads, due to its crunchy texture and slightly sweet flavor. This character is less commonly encountered outside of culinary contexts, making it more specialized in usage.

Strokes18Radical艹
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, water chestnuts are a symbol of good fortune and are often included in festive dishes during Lunar New Year celebrations. They are prized not only for their taste but also for their cultural significance in promoting prosperity.

Memory Tip

Imagine a water chestnut floating in a pond, its green shell resembling a small boat. The character 薺 has the radical for grass (艹) on top, which connects to its plant nature, while the bottom part (奇) can remind you of something peculiar or unique, like the unusual shape of the water chestnut.

Meanings of 薺

jì(ji4)
1water chestnut; water caltrop
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 薺

薺Simplified
18Strokes
艹Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 薺

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Podcast: 薺

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AI Study Notes for 薺

Usage Notes

Common mistakes include confusing 薺 with similar-sounding characters or using it inappropriately in non-culinary contexts. It is generally more informal and specific to food discussions; thus, it may not be used in academic or formal texts. Be mindful of its tone when speaking to avoid miscommunication.

HSK Study Tips

Although 薺 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it can be beneficial for learners at higher levels who are interested in food vocabulary. Students should focus on related characters and terms in cooking or botany to deepen their understanding of the context in which 薺 is used.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 薺 with other food-related characters, such as 菜 (cài) which means vegetable. For example, saying '我喜欢薺' instead of '我喜欢菜' when referring to 'I like vegetables' is incorrect. Always clarify the specific type of food you're discussing.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 薺

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Etymology of 薺

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

plant

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

Origin

薺 = 艹 + 齊. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 薺

IDS Structure⿱艹齊
薺Full Character
=
艹cao3
top
齊qi2
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 薺?

How to say water chestnut; water caltrop in Chinese

“water chestnut; water caltrop” in Chinese is薺jì

The character 薺 (jì) refers to a type of aquatic plant, commonly known as water chestnut or water caltrop. It is often used in Chinese cuisine, particularly in stir-fries and salads, due to its crunchy texture and slightly sweet flavor. This character is less commonly encountered outside of culinary contexts, making it more specialized in usage.

When to use 薺

Common mistakes include confusing 薺 with similar-sounding characters or using it inappropriately in non-culinary contexts. It is generally more informal and specific to food discussions; thus, it may not be used in academic or formal texts. Be mindful of its tone when speaking to avoid miscommunication.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 薺 with other food-related characters, such as 菜 (cài) which means vegetable. For example, saying '我喜欢薺' instead of '我喜欢菜' when referring to 'I like vegetables' is incorrect. Always clarify the specific type of food you're discussing.

Write 薺

薺

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

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Word Family of 薺

Words Containing This Character3
荠菜shepherd's purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris)薺菜
荠jìshepherd's purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris)薺
荸荠Chinese water chestnut荸薺
Exercise 1 of 3

Words with 薺

What does 荠菜 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 薺

Water chestnuts are commonly used in stir-fries, salads, and as a crunchy ingredient in various dishes, adding texture and a mild sweetness.

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