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稷 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
god of cereals; minister of agricultureg, 15 strokes, radical 禾, Very Hard
milletunknown, 15 strokes, radical 禾, Very Hard
God of cereals worshiped by ancient rulersunknown, 15 strokes, radical 禾, Very Hard
(ji4) T4
  1. 1god of cereals; minister of agriculture
  2. 2millet
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March 24, 2026

(ji4)

The character 稷 (jì) refers to the god of cereals and is often associated with agriculture, particularly millet. It is commonly used in historical contexts relating to ancient Chinese agricultural practices and the reverence for the deities linked to farming.

Strokes15RadicalFrequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In ancient China, the worship of 稷 as the god of cereals highlights the importance of agriculture in society, reflecting the agrarian roots of Chinese civilization and the respect afforded to those who ensured food security.

Memory Tip

Imagine a giant plant sprouting from a field of millet, symbolizing abundance and prosperity. The character 稷 has the radical for 'plant' (禾) at the bottom, which visually connects it to agriculture, while the top part can remind you of a crown, representing the godly aspect of this character.

Meanings of 稷

(ji4)
1god of cereals; minister of agriculture
2millet
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 稷

Simplified
15Strokes
Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 稷

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AI Study Notes for 稷

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a giant plant sprouting from a field of millet, symbolizing abundance and prosperity. The character 稷 has the radical for 'plant' (禾) at the bottom, which visually connects it to agriculture, while the top part can remind you of a crown, representing the godly aspect of this character.

Usage Notes

While 稷 is not commonly used in daily conversations, it often appears in historical texts and discussions about agriculture. Students should be careful not to confuse it with similar-sounding words and should use it primarily in formal or academic contexts.

HSK Study Tips

As this character is not part of the HSK vocabulary, learners should focus on its historical significance and relation to agricultural terms. Connecting it to other agricultural-related words can enhance understanding at higher levels.

Cultural Note

In ancient China, the worship of 稷 as the god of cereals highlights the importance of agriculture in society, reflecting the agrarian roots of Chinese civilization and the respect afforded to those who ensured food security.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 稷 with other agricultural characters due to similar pronunciations. For example, using it interchangeably with 农 (nóng) is incorrect; remember that 稷 specifically refers to the god of cereals.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 稷

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Etymology of 稷

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory Hint

grain

Semantic (meaning)
+
Phonetic (sound)
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 稷?

Decomposition of 稷

IDS Structure⿰禾畟
Full Character
=
he2
left
ce4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 稷?

Write 稷

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar Patterns of 稷

稷 carries 3 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.

Exercise 1 of 1

Complete the Sentence

冬播的作物如大麦和____, 在强烈的日照下很快成熟.

Winter - sown crops, like barley and millet, quickly ripen in the strong sun.

Example Sentences for 稷 (1)

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1
冬播的作物如大麦和稷, 在强烈的日照下很快成熟.

dōng bō de zuò wù rú dà mài hé jì, , zài qiáng liè de rì zhào xià hěn kuài chéng.

Winter - sown crops, like barley and millet, quickly ripen in the strong sun.

Cultural Notes for 稷

🏮Cultural insight

In ancient China, the worship of 稷 as the god of cereals highlights the importance of agriculture in society, reflecting the agrarian roots of Chinese civilization and the respect afforded to those who ensured food security.

Word Family of 稷

Words Containing This Character4
社稷state
millet
稷山县Jishan county in Yuncheng 運城|运城[Yùn​chéng], Shanxi稷山縣
稷山Jishan county in Yuncheng 運城|运城[Yùn​chéng], Shanxi
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 社稷 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 稷

It represents the god of cereals and reflects the historical importance of agriculture in Chinese society.