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芤 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
kōuChina grass, ramien, 7 strokes, radical 艹, Very Hard
kōuhollowunknown, 7 strokes, radical 艹, Very Hard
kōuscallion stalkunknown, 7 strokes, radical 艹, Very Hard
kōu(kou1) T1
  1. 1China grass, ramie
  2. 2hollow
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
kōu(kou1)

The character 芤 (kōu) primarily refers to a type of plant known as ramie, which is a fiber used in textiles. It can also describe a hollow structure or the stalk of a scallion, commonly found in various Chinese dishes. This versatile term is often used in botanical contexts or when discussing food ingredients.

Strokes7RadicalFrequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese cuisine, scallions are a staple ingredient, often used for their flavor and aroma. The term 芤 connects to the importance of fresh ingredients in Chinese cooking, where the scallion stalk plays a significant role in many traditional dishes.

Memory Tip

Imagine the character 芤 as a plant growing tall and slender, with its hollow stalks swaying in the breeze. The radical 芽 (yá) represents plants, while the '口' (kǒu) at the bottom suggests the idea of something being hollow. Picture a scallion with a hollow center, making it easier to remember the pronunciation 'kōu'.

Meanings of 芤

kōu(kou1)
1China grass, ramie
2hollow
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 芤

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

Podcast: 芤

JasonAmy

Podcast:

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AI Study Notes for 芤

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine the character 芤 as a plant growing tall and slender, with its hollow stalks swaying in the breeze. The radical 芽 (yá) represents plants, while the '口' (kǒu) at the bottom suggests the idea of something being hollow. Picture a scallion with a hollow center, making it easier to remember the pronunciation 'kōu'.

Usage Notes

Be mindful of the context in which you use 芤, as it can refer to both a plant and a physical characteristic (hollow). It is more commonly encountered in agricultural or culinary discussions. Ensure that you're using the correct tone, as mispronouncing 'kōu' could lead to misunderstandings.

HSK Study Tips

While 芤 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, learners should be familiar with plant-related terms at HSK Level 3 and above. Focus on connecting this word with similar terms related to food and plants, enhancing your vocabulary in these areas.

Cultural Note

In Chinese cuisine, scallions are a staple ingredient, often used for their flavor and aroma. The term 芤 connects to the importance of fresh ingredients in Chinese cooking, where the scallion stalk plays a significant role in many traditional dishes.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 芤 (kōu) with similar-sounding words. For example, using '口' (kǒu) in place of 芤 would lead to confusion. Remember that 芤 specifically relates to plants and hollow structures, unlike other characters that may have different meanings.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 芤

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Etymology of 芤

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

grass

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 芤?

Decomposition of 芤

IDS Structure⿱艹孔
Full Character
=
cao3
top
Kong3
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 芤?

Write 芤

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

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Cultural Notes for 芤

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese cuisine, scallions are a staple ingredient, often used for their flavor and aroma. The term 芤 connects to the importance of fresh ingredients in Chinese cooking, where the scallion stalk plays a significant role in many traditional dishes.

Word Family of 芤

Words Containing This Character1
kōuhollow
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 芤 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 芤

It refers to ramie, a type of plant used in textiles, as well as the hollow stalk of a scallion.