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芡 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
芡qiànGorgon plant, fox nutn, 7 strokes, radical 艹
芡qiànfox nut (Gorgon euryale or Euryale ferox)unknown, 7 strokes, radical 艹
芡qiànmakhana (Hindi)unknown, 7 strokes, radical 艹
qiàn(qian4) T4
  1. 1Gorgon plant, fox nut
  2. 2fox nut (Gorgon euryale or Euryale ferox)
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

芡qiàn(qian4)

The character 芡 (qiàn) refers to the gorgon plant, specifically its seeds, commonly known as fox nuts or makhana. These seeds are often used in Chinese cuisine for their nutritional benefits and are popular in desserts and snacks.

Strokes7Radical艹
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, fox nuts are often associated with health benefits and are used in traditional medicine, reflecting the importance of food in wellness.

Memory Tip

Imagine a fox (the 'fox' in fox nut) in a serene pond where gorgon plants grow. The shape of the character 芡 resembles a plant with leaves at the top, symbolizing its connection to nature and the water where it grows.

Meanings of 芡

qiàn(qian4)
1Gorgon plant, fox nut
2fox nut (Gorgon euryale or Euryale ferox)
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 芡

芡Simplified
7Strokes
艹Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 芡

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Podcast: 芡

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AI Study Notes for 芡

Usage Notes

This term is primarily used in culinary contexts, so it is more common in informal settings or when discussing food. Be careful not to confuse it with similar-sounding words that refer to different plants or foods.

HSK Study Tips

Since 芡 is not included in the official HSK levels, it may be useful for students interested in food vocabulary or cultural dishes. Focus on learning related food terms and their uses in sentences.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 芡 with similar characters like 菁 (qīng, meaning 'young leaves') or 芽 (yá, meaning 'sprout'). Remember, 芡 specifically refers to the gorgon plant and its seeds.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 芡

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Etymology of 芡

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

plant

Semantic (meaning)艹
+
Phonetic (sound)欠
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 芡

  1. 1The meaning half艹 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half欠 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawayplant
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 芡? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 芡?

Decomposition of 芡

IDS Structure⿱艹欠
芡Full Character
=
艹cao3
top
欠qian4
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 芡?

How to say Gorgon plant, fox nut in Chinese

“Gorgon plant, fox nut” in Chinese is芡qiàn

The character 芡 (qiàn) refers to the gorgon plant, specifically its seeds, commonly known as fox nuts or makhana. These seeds are often used in Chinese cuisine for their nutritional benefits and are popular in desserts and snacks.

When to use 芡

This term is primarily used in culinary contexts, so it is more common in informal settings or when discussing food. Be careful not to confuse it with similar-sounding words that refer to different plants or foods.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 芡 with similar characters like 菁 (qīng, meaning 'young leaves') or 芽 (yá, meaning 'sprout'). Remember, 芡 specifically refers to the gorgon plant and its seeds.

Write 芡

芡

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 芡

Words Containing This Character4
芡qiànGorgon plant
勾芡to thicken with cornstarch
芡粉cornstarch
粉芡cooking starch
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 芡 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 芡

芡 is commonly used in soups, desserts, and snacks, often praised for its nutritional value.

Jason Recommends

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