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March 24, 2026
墒shāng(shang1)
The character 墒 (shāng) refers to moist soil or silt, particularly in the context of agriculture. It describes soil that is rich in moisture, which is essential for growing crops and maintaining healthy plants. This term is often used in discussions related to farming and land cultivation.
Strokes14Radical土Frequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese agriculture, understanding soil moisture was crucial for successful crop yields. The character 墒 reflects the importance of soil quality in Chinese farming practices, particularly in regions that rely on rice cultivation.
Memory Tip
Imagine a farmer named Shang who is always checking the moisture levels of his silt-rich soil. The character 墒 has a roof (土) over the earth (土), symbolizing the importance of water and shelter for crops, and the pronunciation 'shāng' can remind you of 'shangri-la', a paradise with fertile land.
Meanings of 墒
shāng(shang1)
1silt; moist soil
2plowed earth
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 墒
墒Simplified
14Strokes
土Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 墒
Podcast: 墒
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AI Study Notes for 墒
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a farmer named Shang who is always checking the moisture levels of his silt-rich soil. The character 墒 has a roof (土) over the earth (土), symbolizing the importance of water and shelter for crops, and the pronunciation 'shāng' can remind you of 'shangri-la', a paradise with fertile land.
Usage Notes
Avoid confusing 墒 (shāng) with similar-sounding characters. This term is primarily used in agricultural contexts, so it is more formal and specific than casual terms for 'soil' (土, tǔ). It often collocates with words related to farming, such as 'irrigation' (灌溉, guàn gài).
HSK Study Tips
Although not included in the HSK levels, understanding 墒 (shāng) can enhance your vocabulary related to agriculture, which is relevant for HSK Level 4 and above. Focus on its usage in agricultural texts and practice with related terms like 土壤 (tǔrǎng, soil) and 湿润 (shīrùn, moist).
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese agriculture, understanding soil moisture was crucial for successful crop yields. The character 墒 reflects the importance of soil quality in Chinese farming practices, particularly in regions that rely on rice cultivation.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 墒 (shāng) with 土 (tǔ), which means 'earth' or 'soil' in general. For example, using 墒 to describe any soil type can be incorrect; it specifically refers to moist soil. Use 墒 when discussing specific agricultural moisture contexts.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 墒
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Cultural Notes for 墒
🏮Cultural insight
In traditional Chinese agriculture, understanding soil moisture was crucial for successful crop yields. The character 墒 reflects the importance of soil quality in Chinese farming practices, particularly in regions that rely on rice cultivation.
Word Family of 墒
Words Containing This Character3
墒shāngfurrow
墒情the state of moisture in the soil (and whether it can support a crop)
保墒preservation of soil moisture
Exercise 1 of 3
Compound Meaning
What does 墒 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 墒
Synonyms include 土壤 (tǔrǎng, soil) and 湿土 (shī tǔ, wet soil).
No, 墒 is more commonly used in agricultural contexts and may not be familiar to those outside farming.
The correct pronunciation is 'shāng', with a high level tone.
