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芰 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
芰jìwater caltropg, 7 strokes, radical 艹
芰jìTrapa natansunknown, 7 strokes, radical 艹
jì(ji4) T4
  1. 1water caltrop
  2. 2Trapa natans
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

芰jì(ji4)

The character 芰 (jì) refers to a type of aquatic plant known as water caltrop or Trapa natans. This plant is commonly found in freshwater environments and is notable for its unique, nut-like fruit that resembles a caltrop. It is often used in Chinese cuisine and traditional medicine.

Strokes7Radical艹
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, water caltrop is often enjoyed during the Mid-Autumn Festival, symbolizing abundance and prosperity. It is also featured in traditional dishes, reflecting the agricultural practices tied to water cultivation.

Memory Tip

Imagine a water caltrop floating on the surface of a lake. The character 芰 has the radical 芽 (yá, meaning 'bud' or 'sprout') on the left, symbolizing the plant's aquatic nature, while the right side is a simplified form suggesting its unique shape. Think of 'jì' as 'ji' in 'juicy' caltrop fruit, which helps you remember its pronunciation and meaning.

Meanings of 芰

jì(ji4)
1water caltrop
2Trapa natans
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 芰

芰Simplified
7Strokes
艹Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 芰

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Podcast: 芰

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AI Study Notes for 芰

Usage Notes

The term 芰 is mostly used in formal contexts, such as botany or culinary discussions. A common mistake is confusing it with similar-sounding words; make sure to use the correct tone (jì) to avoid misunderstandings. Collocations might include phrases related to water plants or specific dishes.

HSK Study Tips

Although 芰 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it connects to Level 6 vocabulary regarding nature and food. Students should focus on recognizing botanical terms and their applications in various contexts, enhancing their understanding of related flora.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mispronounce 芰 as 'jì' instead of the correct tone, which can lead to confusion with other characters. For example, saying 'ji' with a flat tone changes the meaning entirely. Always remember to use the fourth tone.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 芰

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Etymology of 芰

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

plant

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 芰

  1. 1The meaning half艹 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half支 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 芰? 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 芰?

Decomposition of 芰

IDS Structure⿱艹支
芰Full Character
=
艹cao3
top
支Zhi1
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 芰?

How to say water caltrop in Chinese

“water caltrop” in Chinese is芰jì

The character 芰 (jì) refers to a type of aquatic plant known as water caltrop or Trapa natans. This plant is commonly found in freshwater environments and is notable for its unique, nut-like fruit that resembles a caltrop. It is often used in Chinese cuisine and traditional medicine.

When to use 芰

The term 芰 is mostly used in formal contexts, such as botany or culinary discussions. A common mistake is confusing it with similar-sounding words; make sure to use the correct tone (jì) to avoid misunderstandings. Collocations might include phrases related to water plants or specific dishes.

What learners get wrong

Learners often mispronounce 芰 as 'jì' instead of the correct tone, which can lead to confusion with other characters. For example, saying 'ji' with a flat tone changes the meaning entirely. Always remember to use the fourth tone.

Write 芰

芰

Practice writing 芰 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 芰

Words Containing This Character1
芰jìTrapa natans
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 芰 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 芰

Water caltrop is valued for its crunchy texture and nutritional benefits, often used in stir-fries, soups, and desserts.

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