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March 24, 2026
禾苗()hémiáo(he2miao2)
禾苗 refers to seedlings, specifically those of rice or other grains. This term is commonly used in agricultural contexts and highlights the early growth stage of cereal crops, emphasizing their importance in farming and food production.
Frequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In China, rice is a staple food and plays a crucial role in the culture and economy. The cultivation of rice seedlings (禾苗) is vital to food security and is celebrated during festivals like the Rice Planting Festival.
Memory Tip
Imagine a small rice plant (禾) sprouting (苗) from the ground. The character 禾 looks like a growing plant, and you can visualize 'he' (禾) as the sound of a seedling ‘he’althily emerging from the soil.
Meanings of 禾苗
hémiáo(he2miao2)
1seedling (of rice or other grain)
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About 禾苗
禾苗Simplified
Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
棵Measure Word
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 禾苗
Podcast: 禾苗
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AI Study Notes for 禾苗
Quick Contrast
禾苗 (hémiáo) vs 秧苗 (yāngmiáo) — use 禾苗 for cereal crop seedlings, while 秧苗 refers specifically to rice seedlings.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a small rice plant (禾) sprouting (苗) from the ground. The character 禾 looks like a growing plant, and you can visualize 'he' (禾) as the sound of a seedling ‘he’althily emerging from the soil.
Usage Notes
Be cautious not to confuse 禾苗 with other types of plants or seedlings, as it specifically refers to grain plants. It is generally used in formal agricultural discussions but can also appear in everyday conversation about farming. Avoid mispronouncing the tones, especially the second tone of 'miao'.
HSK Study Tips
While 禾苗 is not an HSK word, it relates to agricultural vocabulary that may appear in higher levels. Focus on related terms like '种植' (to plant) and '收获' (to harvest) to enhance your understanding of farming contexts.
Cultural Note
In China, rice is a staple food and plays a crucial role in the culture and economy. The cultivation of rice seedlings (禾苗) is vital to food security and is celebrated during festivals like the Rice Planting Festival.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 禾苗 with '树苗' (tree seedlings) because they sound similar. Remember that 禾苗 is specifically for grain plants, while 树苗 is for trees.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 禾苗
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Cultural Notes for 禾苗
🏮Cultural insight
In China, rice is a staple food and plays a crucial role in the culture and economy. The cultivation of rice seedlings (禾苗) is vital to food security and is celebrated during festivals like the Rice Planting Festival.
Frequently Asked Questions about 禾苗
禾苗 specifically refers to seedlings of grain crops like rice, while other terms may refer to seedlings of vegetables or fruits.
You can say, '农民在春天种下禾苗' (The farmers plant seedlings in the spring).
Yes, you can use the term '幼苗' (young plant) in a broader sense, but 禾苗 is specific to grain seedlings.
