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埴 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
埴zhísoil with high clay contentg, 11 strokes, radical 土
埴zhísoil with large clay contentunknown, 11 strokes, radical 土
zhí(zhi2)zhi T2
  1. 1soil with high clay content
  2. 2soil with large clay content
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March 24, 2026

埴zhí(zhi2)

The character 埴 (zhí) refers to a type of soil that contains a high proportion of clay. This term is often used in agricultural contexts to discuss soil composition and its suitability for growing different crops. It highlights the characteristic texture and properties of the soil, which can affect water retention and nutrient availability.

Strokes11Radical土
Cultural note

In traditional Chinese agriculture, the type of soil, including clay-rich soil, plays a crucial role in farming practices. The concept of soil quality is tied closely to the success of crops, reflecting the importance of agriculture in Chinese culture.

Memory tip

Imagine a clay figure (zhí) being shaped from a muddy pile of soil. The character 埴 looks like a house (土) with something heavy (重) on top, representing the weighty nature of clay-rich soil. Picture yourself trying to plant seeds in this thick, sticky soil, emphasizing its unique quality.

Meanings of 埴

zhí(zhi2)
1soil with high clay content
2soil with large clay content
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 埴

埴Simplified
11Strokes
土Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

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Podcast: 埴

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AI Study Notes for 埴

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 埴 (zhí) with similar-sounding characters like 直 (zhí, meaning 'straight'). This term is generally used in technical or agricultural discussions, so it may not be common in everyday conversation. Common collocations include terms related to soil quality and agriculture.

HSK Study Tips

While 埴 is not currently part of the HSK vocabulary lists, understanding it can enhance your grasp of agricultural terminology found in related HSK levels. Focus on how this word connects to other soil-related terms and the broader context of agriculture in China, which is significant in many HSK reading passages.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 埴 (zhí) with similar characters like 直 (zhí), leading to incorrect usage in sentences. For example, saying '这块土是直的' (This piece of soil is straight) instead of '这块土是埴的' (This piece of soil is clay-rich) can distort the intended meaning.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 埴

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Etymology of 埴

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

earth

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

Origin

埴 = 土 + 直. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 埴

IDS Structure⿰土直
埴Full character
=
土Tu3
left
直Zhi2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 埴?

How to say soil with high clay content in Chinese

“soil with high clay content” in Chinese is埴zhí

The character 埴 (zhí) refers to a type of soil that contains a high proportion of clay. This term is often used in agricultural contexts to discuss soil composition and its suitability for growing different crops. It highlights the characteristic texture and properties of the soil, which can affect water retention and nutrient availability.

When to use 埴

Be careful not to confuse 埴 (zhí) with similar-sounding characters like 直 (zhí, meaning 'straight'). This term is generally used in technical or agricultural discussions, so it may not be common in everyday conversation. Common collocations include terms related to soil quality and agriculture.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 埴 (zhí) with similar characters like 直 (zhí), leading to incorrect usage in sentences. For example, saying '这块土是直的' (This piece of soil is straight) instead of '这块土是埴的' (This piece of soil is clay-rich) can distort the intended meaning.

Write 埴

埴

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

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Word Family of 埴

Words containing this character1
埴zhísoil with large clay content

Frequently Asked Questions about 埴

埴 specifically refers to clay-rich soil, while other terms may refer to different soil types, such as sandy or loamy soil.

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