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屮 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
屮chèsproutx, 3 strokes, radical 屮
屮chèplants sproutingunknown, 3 strokes, radical 屮
chè(che4)che T4
  1. 1sprout
  2. 2plants sprouting
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March 24, 2026

屮chè(che4)

The character 屮 (chè) represents the concept of a sprout or the early stage of plant growth. It is often used to describe new life emerging from the ground, symbolizing beginnings and growth. This character can also appear in compound words related to plants and nature.

Strokes3Radical屮
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, the growth of plants symbolizes prosperity and new beginnings, making 屮 a character that embodies hope and renewal. Spring festivals often emphasize the theme of growth, aligning with the meaning of this character.

Memory tip

Imagine a tiny sprout (屮) breaking through the soil, reaching up towards the sun. The character looks like a little plant emerging, with the '丿' (piě) on the sides resembling leaves. Think of 'chè' as 'ch' in 'chick', as both suggest something new and lively.

Meanings of 屮

chè(che4)
1sprout
2plants sprouting
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 屮

屮Simplified
3Strokes
屮Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

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Podcast: 屮

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AI Study Notes for 屮

Usage Notes

This character is rarely used alone in modern Mandarin; instead, it often appears in combination with other characters to form words related to plants. Be cautious with pronunciation, as mispronouncing the tone can lead to misunderstandings, given that 'chè' is pronounced with a falling tone.

HSK Study Tips

While 屮 is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, understanding it can enhance your grasp of related terms. Focus on recognizing it in context, especially in botanical terms or poetic expressions that refer to nature.

Common Mistakes

Learners might confuse 屮 with other similar-looking characters, such as 𠂇 (hè). Make sure you practice differentiating them, as they have distinct meanings and usages.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 屮

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Etymology of 屮

Formation typePictographic 象形
六书 ClassificationPictograph (象形字)~4% of characters
Explanation

Half of 艸 (grass).

Memory hint

A sprout

Learn more about Pictograph (象形字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

What kind of character is 屮?

Decomposition of 屮

IDS Structure⿻凵丨
屮Full character
=
凵qian3
outer
丨gun3
inner
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 屮?

How to say sprout in Chinese

“sprout” in Chinese is屮chè

The character 屮 (chè) represents the concept of a sprout or the early stage of plant growth. It is often used to describe new life emerging from the ground, symbolizing beginnings and growth. This character can also appear in compound words related to plants and nature.

When to use 屮

This character is rarely used alone in modern Mandarin; instead, it often appears in combination with other characters to form words related to plants. Be cautious with pronunciation, as mispronouncing the tone can lead to misunderstandings, given that 'chè' is pronounced with a falling tone.

What learners get wrong

Learners might confuse 屮 with other similar-looking characters, such as 𠂇 (hè). Make sure you practice differentiating them, as they have distinct meanings and usages.

Write 屮

屮

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

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Word Family of 屮

Words containing this character1
屮chèplants sprouting

Frequently Asked Questions about 屮

No, 屮 is not typically used alone in conversation; it mainly appears in compound words related to plants.

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