HSK 7, n, 5 strokes, radical 禾, rank #44417, Very Hard
hé(he2)he T2
1cereal, grain, rice; plant, stalk
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March 24, 2026
禾hé(he2)
禾 (hé) refers to cereal grains or plants, particularly rice and other staple crops. It is often used in agricultural contexts and represents the concept of farming and the importance of grains in Chinese culture and cuisine.
Strokes5Radical禾Frequency#44417DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, grains like rice and wheat are foundational to diet and agriculture. The character 禾 symbolizes not just food but also the agrarian roots of Chinese civilization, reflecting the importance of farming.
Memory Tip
Imagine a field of golden rice stalks swaying in the breeze, each stalk represents a '禾' (hé). The character looks like a plant with its long, vertical lines symbolizing the tall stalks of grain reaching upwards.
Meanings of 禾
hé(he2)
1cereal, grain, rice; plant, stalk
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 禾
禾Simplified
5Strokes
禾Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 禾
Podcast: 禾
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AI Study Notes for 禾
Usage Notes
When using 禾, it is important to remember that it typically refers to crops in general rather than specific types. A common mistake is to confuse it with the character 米 (mǐ), which specifically means 'rice' as a processed grain. In formal contexts, 禾 can be combined with other characters to create terms related to agriculture.
HSK Study Tips
Although 禾 is not included in the official HSK levels, it is useful for learners interested in agricultural vocabulary. Connecting this character with related terms like 稻 (dào, rice plant) and 麦 (mài, wheat) can enhance understanding.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 禾 with 米 (mǐ), thinking they are interchangeable. Remember that 禾 refers to the plant itself, while 米 refers to the processed grain. For example, saying '我喜欢禾' (wǒ xǐhuān hé) to mean 'I like rice' is incorrect; it should be '我喜欢米' (wǒ xǐhuān mǐ).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 禾
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Knowing 禾 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
How to say cereal, grain, rice; plant, stalk in Chinese
“cereal, grain, rice; plant, stalk” in Chinese is禾hé
禾 (hé) refers to cereal grains or plants, particularly rice and other staple crops. It is often used in agricultural contexts and represents the concept of farming and the importance of grains in Chinese culture and cuisine.
When to use 禾
When using 禾, it is important to remember that it typically refers to crops in general rather than specific types. A common mistake is to confuse it with the character 米 (mǐ), which specifically means 'rice' as a processed grain. In formal contexts, 禾 can be combined with other characters to create terms related to agriculture.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 禾 with 米 (mǐ), thinking they are interchangeable. Remember that 禾 refers to the plant itself, while 米 refers to the processed grain. For example, saying '我喜欢禾' (wǒ xǐhuān hé) to mean 'I like rice' is incorrect; it should be '我喜欢米' (wǒ xǐhuān mǐ).
Write 禾
禾
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Practice writing 禾 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 禾
禾 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). The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
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Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
