Stroke order, etymology and audio for every word.Start learning
耕 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
耕
gēng
to plow, to cultivate
HSK 7, n, 10 strokes, radical 耒, rank #21602, Very Hard
耕
gēng
to till
HSK 7, unknown, 10 strokes, radical 耒, rank #21602, Very Hard
gēng(geng1)geng T1
1to plow, to cultivate
2to till
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
耕(畊)gēng(geng1)
The character 耕 (gēng) refers to the act of plowing or cultivating land for agricultural purposes. It is commonly used in contexts related to farming, agriculture, and the labor involved in preparing soil for crops. This character emphasizes the hard work and effort required in the agricultural process.
Strokes10Radical耒Frequency#21602DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
Agriculture has deep roots in Chinese culture, and the practice of 耕 reflects the importance of farming in sustaining communities. Festivals like the Spring Festival often celebrate the start of the farming season, highlighting the significance of cultivation.
Memory tip
Imagine a farmer (耕) with a plow (the horizontal line at the bottom) pushing through the soil. The sound 'gēng' resembles the sound of a plow cutting through the earth, helping you remember both the meaning and pronunciation.
Meanings of 耕
gēng(geng1)
1to plow, to cultivate
2to till
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 耕 means.
About 耕
耕Simplified
畊Traditional
10Strokes
耒Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#21602Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7
Podcast: 耕
Podcast: 耕
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI study notes for 耕
Quick Contrast
耕 (gēng) vs 种 (zhòng) — use 耕 when referring specifically to the act of plowing or preparing land, while 种 focuses on the act of planting seeds.
Usage Notes
When using 耕, it is important to be mindful of its context in agricultural discussions. Common collocations include 耕地 (gēngdì), meaning 'to plow the land.' Avoid confusion with similar-sounding terms by paying attention to the tone; gēng is pronounced with a high level tone.
HSK Study Tips
While 耕 is not an HSK vocabulary word, it connects to HSK Level 2 words related to nature and agriculture, such as 土 (tǔ, soil) and 农 (nóng, farming). Students should focus on understanding its usage in agricultural contexts to enhance vocabulary retention.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 耕 with other similar characters like 耕种 (gēng zhǒng), which means 'to sow.' Remember that 耕 focuses specifically on the act of plowing. Another mistake is mispronouncing it; ensure you use the correct high tone, gēng.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 耕
Premium — Locked
Tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 耕, say it back, see your pitch against the model voice, and earn XP towards mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 耕 through them.
Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.
How well do you know 耕?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 耕 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.
耕 = 耒 + 井. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 耕
IDS Structure⿰耒井
耕Full character
=
耒lei3
left
井Jing3
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 耕?
How to say to plow, to cultivate in Chinese
“to plow, to cultivate” in Chinese is耕gēng
The character 耕 (gēng) refers to the act of plowing or cultivating land for agricultural purposes. It is commonly used in contexts related to farming, agriculture, and the labor involved in preparing soil for crops. This character emphasizes the hard work and effort required in the agricultural process.
When to use 耕
When using 耕, it is important to be mindful of its context in agricultural discussions. Common collocations include 耕地 (gēngdì), meaning 'to plow the land.' Avoid confusion with similar-sounding terms by paying attention to the tone; gēng is pronounced with a high level tone.
耕 or something close to it
耕 (gēng) vs 种 (zhòng) — use 耕 when referring specifically to the act of plowing or preparing land, while 种 focuses on the act of planting seeds.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 耕 with other similar characters like 耕种 (gēng zhǒng), which means 'to sow.' Remember that 耕 focuses specifically on the act of plowing. Another mistake is mispronouncing it; ensure you use the correct high tone, gēng.
Write 耕
耕
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 耕 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 耕
耕 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.
山间的一小块____地是不可能养活一大家人的。
A smallholding in the hills could not support a large family.
