HSK 7, v, 10 strokes, radical 木, rank #9224, Very Hard
栽
zāi
to plant
HSK 7, v, 10 strokes, radical 木, rank #9224, Very Hard
栽
zāi
to insert
HSK 7, v, 10 strokes, radical 木, rank #9224, Very Hard
栽
zāi
to force on sb
HSK 7, v, 10 strokes, radical 木, rank #9224, Very Hard
栽
zāi
to fall head first
HSK 7, v, 10 strokes, radical 木, rank #9224, Very Hard
栽
zāi
to cultivate, to plant, to tend
HSK 7, v, 10 strokes, radical 木, rank #9224, Very Hard
zāi(zai1) T1
1to grow
2to plant
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March 24, 2026
栽zāi(zai1)
The character 栽 (zāi) primarily means 'to plant' or 'to grow,' often used in the context of agriculture or gardening. It can also imply inserting something into a particular location or forcing something onto someone. Additionally, it has a figurative use related to falling or tumbling headfirst, which adds a layer of nuance to its applications.
Strokes10Radical木Frequency#9224DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, agriculture holds significant importance, and the act of planting (栽) symbolizes nurturing and growth, not just of plants but also of relationships and personal development. Festivals like the Spring Festival often celebrate the planting season.
Memory Tip
Imagine planting a tree (木) in the ground (土) as you say 'zāi'—the shape of the character shows the tree being inserted into the earth. Visualize the tree growing tall and strong, reminding you of the growth aspect, while the character's form resembles a tree (木) rooted in the ground.
Meanings of 栽
zāi(zai1)
1to grow
2to plant
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 栽
栽Simplified
10Strokes
木Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#9224Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedBCT✓CEFRC2
Podcast: 栽
Podcast: 栽
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AI Study Notes for 栽
Quick Contrast
栽 (zāi) vs 种 (zhòng) — use 栽 when emphasizing the act of planting or inserting, while 种 focuses on the broader concept of growing or cultivating.
Usage Notes
Be cautious not to confuse 栽 with other similar verbs like 种 (zhòng), which specifically means 'to sow' or 'to seed.' 栽 is more about the act of planting established plants or trees. It's used in both formal and informal contexts, but avoid using it when discussing abstract growth, which may lead to confusion.
HSK Study Tips
Although 栽 is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, it connects to words related to agriculture and growth found in HSK levels 3-4. Focus on its root meaning of 'planting' and practice using it in sentences about gardening or cultivation to reinforce your understanding.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 栽 with the character 种 (zhòng), leading to incorrect usage in planting contexts. For instance, saying '我栽种了种子' (I planted seeds) should be corrected to '我种了种子.'
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 栽
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2The sound half戈 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawaytree
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 栽? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 栽?
Decomposition of 栽
IDS Structure⿹戈木
栽Full Character
=
戈Ge1
enclosing
木Mu4
inner
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 栽?
How to say to grow in Chinese
“to grow” in Chinese is栽zāi
The character 栽 (zāi) primarily means 'to plant' or 'to grow,' often used in the context of agriculture or gardening. It can also imply inserting something into a particular location or forcing something onto someone. Additionally, it has a figurative use related to falling or tumbling headfirst, which adds a layer of nuance to its applications.
When to use 栽
Be cautious not to confuse 栽 with other similar verbs like 种 (zhòng), which specifically means 'to sow' or 'to seed.' 栽 is more about the act of planting established plants or trees. It's used in both formal and informal contexts, but avoid using it when discussing abstract growth, which may lead to confusion.
栽 or something close to it
栽 (zāi) vs 种 (zhòng) — use 栽 when emphasizing the act of planting or inserting, while 种 focuses on the broader concept of growing or cultivating.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 栽 with the character 种 (zhòng), leading to incorrect usage in planting contexts. For instance, saying '我栽种了种子' (I planted seeds) should be corrected to '我种了种子.'
Write 栽
栽
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Practice writing 栽 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 栽
栽 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 6 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
这家公司的主管们觉得他值得____培。
The directors of this company feel he's worth every penny.
Example Sentences for 栽 (10)
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1
这家公司的主管们觉得他值得栽培。
zhè jiā gōng sī de zhǔ guǎn mén jué dé tā zhí dé zāi péi。
The directors of this company feel he's worth every penny.
