Skip to content
Start your Chinese Learning JourneyStart Now
耔 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
to hoe the soil around one's plantsx, 9 strokes, radical 耒, Very Hard
hoe up soil around plantsunknown, 9 strokes, radical 耒, Very Hard
(zi3) T3
  1. 1to hoe the soil around one's plants
  2. 2hoe up soil around plants
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
(zi3)

The character 耔 (zǐ) refers to the action of hoeing soil around plants to aid their growth. This term is commonly used in agricultural contexts, particularly in discussions about farming practices and gardening. It implies a nurturing action that helps to aerate the soil and manage weeds.

Strokes9RadicalFrequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese culture, agriculture is highly valued, and practices like hoeing are integral to farming success. The importance of careful soil management reflects the deep connection between the community and the land.

Memory Tip

Imagine a gardener (who cares for plants) using a hoe to dig around the roots, making sure they get enough air and nutrients. The character 耔 resembles a tool (the hoe) being used to dig into the earth, while the sound 'zǐ' can be remembered as 'zi' for 'zen-like care' for plants.

Meanings of 耔

(zi3)
1to hoe the soil around one's plants
2hoe up soil around plants
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 耔

Simplified
9Strokes
Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 耔

JasonAmy

Podcast:

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 耔

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a gardener (who cares for plants) using a hoe to dig around the roots, making sure they get enough air and nutrients. The character 耔 resembles a tool (the hoe) being used to dig into the earth, while the sound 'zǐ' can be remembered as 'zi' for 'zen-like care' for plants.

Usage Notes

While 耔 is specific to hoeing, learners should note that it may not be commonly used in daily conversation. Its usage is more prevalent in agricultural texts or discussions. Avoid confusion with similar-sounding words like '子' (zǐ), which means 'child' or 'son.'

HSK Study Tips

Although 耔 is not part of HSK, it connects with agricultural vocabulary at HSK 3 and above, where students learn about farming and nature. Focus on understanding context and usage in agricultural discussions to reinforce vocabulary acquisition.

Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese culture, agriculture is highly valued, and practices like hoeing are integral to farming success. The importance of careful soil management reflects the deep connection between the community and the land.

Common Mistakes

Learners might confuse 耔 with other characters that sound similar, such as 子 (zǐ) or 资 (zī). Remember that 耔 specifically pertains to gardening and hoeing, while 子 refers to children, and 资 relates to resources or capital.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 耔

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsInstant feedback+5 XP
See plans to unlock

Etymology of 耔

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

plow

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 耔?

Decomposition of 耔

IDS Structure⿰耒子
Full Character
=
lei3
left
zi3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 耔?

Write 耔

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

Cultural Notes for 耔

🏮Cultural insight

In traditional Chinese culture, agriculture is highly valued, and practices like hoeing are integral to farming success. The importance of careful soil management reflects the deep connection between the community and the land.

Word Family of 耔

Words Containing This Character1
hoe up soil around plants
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 耔 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 耔

No, 耔 is more specialized and may not be used frequently in everyday conversation.