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植 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
植
zhí
to plant
n, 12 strokes, radical 木, rank #6335, Hard
植
zhí
tree, plant; to grow
n, 12 strokes, radical 木, rank #6335, Hard
zhí(zhi2)zhi T2
1to plant
2tree, plant; to grow
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March 24, 2026
植zhí(zhi2)
The character 植 (zhí) primarily means 'to plant' or 'to grow,' and it is often used in contexts related to botany or agriculture. It can refer to the act of planting trees or other vegetation, as well as the growth process of plants. In broader contexts, it may also symbolize the idea of establishing or nurturing something.
Strokes12Radical木Frequency#6335DifficultyHard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, planting trees is often associated with environmental stewardship and is a practice encouraged during special occasions, such as Arbor Day. The act of planting is seen as a way to contribute to the earth and future generations.
Memory tip
Imagine a gardener with a shovel (the radical 木 for 'wood' or 'tree') planting seeds in the ground. The character 植 contains this radical, indicating its connection to plants. Picture the gardener saying 'zhí!' as they plant each seed, linking the sound to the action of planting.
Meanings of 植
zhí(zhi2)
1to plant
2tree, plant; to grow
Exercise 1 of 3
By ear
Play it, then pick what 植 means.
About 植
植Simplified
12Strokes
木Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#6335Frequency Rank
Podcast: 植
Podcast: 植
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AI study notes for 植
Quick Contrast
种 (zhǒng) - use 植 when emphasizing the act of planting or growing, while 种 focuses more on the type or variety of plants.
Usage Notes
Be cautious not to confuse 植 with similar-sounding words. It is used in both formal and informal contexts, often in discussions about gardening or agriculture. Common collocations include 植树 (zhí shù, 'to plant trees') and 植物 (zhí wù, 'plants').
HSK Study Tips
Although 植 is not part of the HSK vocabulary lists, it relates to other HSK words involving nature and cultivation, such as 树 (shù, 'tree') and 草 (cǎo, 'grass'). Focus on how 植 can be used in compound words to enhance vocabulary.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 植 with other similar characters like 直 (zhí, 'straight'). For example, saying 植直 instead of 植树 (to plant trees) is incorrect. Remember that 植 specifically relates to planting and growth.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 植
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植 = 木 + 直. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 植
IDS Structure⿰木直
植Full character
=
木Mu4
left
直Zhi2
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 植?
How to say to plant in Chinese
“to plant” in Chinese is植zhí
The character 植 (zhí) primarily means 'to plant' or 'to grow,' and it is often used in contexts related to botany or agriculture. It can refer to the act of planting trees or other vegetation, as well as the growth process of plants. In broader contexts, it may also symbolize the idea of establishing or nurturing something.
When to use 植
Be cautious not to confuse 植 with similar-sounding words. It is used in both formal and informal contexts, often in discussions about gardening or agriculture. Common collocations include 植树 (zhí shù, 'to plant trees') and 植物 (zhí wù, 'plants').
植 or something close to it
种 (zhǒng) - use 植 when emphasizing the act of planting or growing, while 种 focuses more on the type or variety of plants.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 植 with other similar characters like 直 (zhí, 'straight'). For example, saying 植直 instead of 植树 (to plant trees) is incorrect. Remember that 植 specifically relates to planting and growth.
Write 植
植
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Practice writing 植 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 植
植 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 2 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
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
她种了很多我不熟悉的奇妙____物。
She grew many wonderful plants that were unfamiliar to me.
Common confusions with 植
植vs执
zhí
Same pronunciation but different meaning
植vs直
zhí
Same pronunciation but different meaning
Exercise 1 of 1
Which one
Which one means “to plant”?
or
Example sentences for 植 (16)
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1
她种了很多我不熟悉的奇妙植物。
tā zhǒng le hěn duō wǒ bù shúxi de qímiào zhíwù。
She grew many wonderful plants that were unfamiliar to me.
2
这种植物被用作治疗神经痛时的镇静药。
zhè zhòngzhí wù bèi yòng zuō zhìliáo shénjīng tòng shí de zhènjìng yào。
The plant acts as a sedative in treating neuralgia.
3
两天以后，他们把受精卵重新植入了我的体内。
liǎng tiān yǐhòu， tāmen bǎ shòu jīng luǎn chóngxīn zhí rù le wǒ de tǐ nèi。
Two days later, they implanted the fertilized eggs back inside me.
4
这本书包括了有关动植物的一些有用的知识。
zhè běn shūbāo kuò le yǒuguān dòng zhíwù de yìxiē yǒuyòng de zhīshi。
The book includes some useful facts about animal and plant life.
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Word Family of 植
Words containing this character20
植物zhíwùplant
移植yízhíto transplant
种植zhòngzhíto plant種植
植zhíto plant
植入zhírùto implant
植物人zhíwùrénhuman vegetable
植被zhíbèivegetation
植树zhíshùto plant trees植樹
动植物dòngzhíwùplants and animals動植物
植物园zhíwùyuánarboretum植物園
培植péizhíto cultivate
植株zhízhūplant (horticulture)
植物油zhíwùyóuvegetable oil
种植园zhòngzhíyuánplantation種植園
扶植fúzhíto foster
种植业zhòngzhíyèplantation種植業
植物学zhíwùxuébotany植物學
栽植zāizhíto plant
植皮zhípíto graft skin
密植mìzhíclose planting
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 植
What does 植物 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 植
Yes, 植 (zhí) is often found in phrases like '植物学' (zhíwùxué), which means 'botany' or 'the study of plants.' It emphasizes the importance of plants and their role in ecology and daily life.
To use 植 (zhí) in a sentence, you could say '我想种植一些花' (Wǒ xiǎng zhòng zhí yīxiē huā), which means 'I want to plant some flowers.' It can also be used in phrases like '植物的生长' (zhíwù de shēngzhǎng), meaning 'the growth of plants.'
植 (zhí) means 'to plant' or 'to grow.' It is commonly used in contexts related to botany, agriculture, and gardening. The character also relates to trees and plants, signifying the action of planting them.
It is pronounced 'zhí' with a rising tone.
Yes, it can be used when talking about gardening or nature.
Some common phrases include 植树 (to plant trees) and 植物 (plants).
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