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芹 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
芹qíncelerynr, 7 strokes, radical 艹, rank #34089, Very Hard
芹qínChinese celeryunknown, 7 strokes, radical 艹, rank #34089, Very Hard
qín(qin2)qin T2
  1. 1celery
  2. 2Chinese celery
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March 24, 2026

芹qín(qin2)

The character 芹 (qín) refers specifically to celery, particularly the type known as Chinese celery, which is thinner and has a stronger flavor than Western celery. It is commonly used in stir-fries and salads in Chinese cuisine, highlighting its versatility and popularity as a vegetable ingredient.

Strokes7Radical艹Frequency#34089DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese cuisine, celery is not only valued for its flavor but also for its health benefits, such as being low in calories and high in vitamins. It often symbolizes health and vitality in traditional dishes.

Memory tip

Imagine a slender green stalk (the shape of celery) growing in a field. The character 芹 features the radical '艹' which represents plants, and the remaining components suggest its edible nature. To remember 'qín', think of a chef's 'keen' interest in using this flavorful vegetable.

Meanings of 芹

qín(qin2)
1celery
2Chinese celery
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 芹 means.

About 芹

芹Simplified
7Strokes
艹Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 芹

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Podcast: 芹

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AI study notes for 芹

Quick Contrast

芹 (qín) vs 莴苣 (wōjù) — choose 芹 for celery specifically, while 莴苣 refers to lettuce.

Usage Notes

Learners should be aware that 芹 is typically used in culinary contexts, particularly when discussing recipes or ingredients. A common mistake is confusing it with other green vegetables; ensure context indicates celery. This word is generally used in informal settings.

HSK Study Tips

While 芹 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it connects well with other food-related words at similar levels. Students should focus on vocabulary related to cooking and ingredients to build practical language skills.

Common Mistakes

A frequent error is mispronouncing the word as 'qīn' instead of 'qín'. Additionally, learners sometimes confuse 芹 with similar vegetables like 韭 (jiǔ, garlic chives), which have different culinary uses.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 芹

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Etymology of 芹

Formation typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 艹 represents the meaning and 斤 represents the sound.

Memory hint

plant

Semantic (meaning)艹
+
Phonetic (sound)斤
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

芹 = 艹 + 斤. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 芹

IDS Structure⿱艹斤
芹Full character
=
艹cao3
top
斤jin1
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 芹?

How to say celery in Chinese

“celery” in Chinese is芹qín

The character 芹 (qín) refers specifically to celery, particularly the type known as Chinese celery, which is thinner and has a stronger flavor than Western celery. It is commonly used in stir-fries and salads in Chinese cuisine, highlighting its versatility and popularity as a vegetable ingredient.

When to use 芹

Learners should be aware that 芹 is typically used in culinary contexts, particularly when discussing recipes or ingredients. A common mistake is confusing it with other green vegetables; ensure context indicates celery. This word is generally used in informal settings.

芹 or something close to it

芹 (qín) vs 莴苣 (wōjù) — choose 芹 for celery specifically, while 莴苣 refers to lettuce.

What learners get wrong

A frequent error is mispronouncing the word as 'qīn' instead of 'qín'. Additionally, learners sometimes confuse 芹 with similar vegetables like 韭 (jiǔ, garlic chives), which have different culinary uses.

Write 芹

芹

Practice writing 芹 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 芹

芹 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.

欧____可能是用得最多的一种药草。

Parsley is probably the most commonly used of all herbs.

Example sentences for 芹 (10)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
欧芹可能是用得最多的一种药草。

Ōu qín kěnéng shì yòng de zuì duō de yī zhǒng yào cǎo。

Parsley is probably the most commonly used of all herbs.
2
肉豆蔻、西芹和苹果酒都能很好地突出这些豆子的味道。

ròu dòu kòu、 xī qín hé píngguǒ jiǔ dōu néng hěn hǎo dì tūchū zhèxiē dòuzi de wèidào。

Nutmeg, parsley and cider all complement the flavour of these beans well.
3
不要把薯片和巧克力当零食来吃,要吃些芹菜和胡萝卜。

búyào bǎ shǔpiàn hé qiǎokèlì dāng língshí lái chī, yào chī xiē qín cài hé hú luóbo。

Instead of snacking on crisps and chocolate, nibble on celery or carrot.
4
金旺自从碰了小芹的钉子以后,每分怀恨, 总想设法报一报仇.

jīn wàng zìcóng pèng le xiǎo qín de dīngzi yǐhòu, měi fēn huái hèn, zǒng xiǎng shèfǎ bào yī bàochóu.

Ever since Qin rebuffed him, Wang longed for revenge.
5
端离炉子,加上欧芹,颠起翻面后就立刻上桌。

duān lí lúzi, jiāshàng Ōu qín, diān qǐ fān miàn hòu jiù lìkè shàng zhuō。

Remove from the heat, add the parsley, toss and serve at once.
6
欧芹沙司鱼

Ōu qín Shā Sī yú

fish with parsley sauce
7
一根芹菜

yī gēn qín cài

a stick of celery
8
把芹菜切碎放到色拉.

bǎ qín cài qiē suì fàngdào sè lā.

Chop the celery and add it to the salad.
9
卡罗琳从地里挖出一棵芹菜.

kǎ luō lín cóng dì lǐ wā chū yī kē qín cài.

Caroline dug up a head of celery.
10
这芹菜新鲜脆嫩.

zhè qín cài xīnxiān cuì nèn.

The celery is fresh and crisp.

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Word Family of 芹

Words containing this character5
芹菜celery (Apium graveolens)
芹qínChinese celery
曹雪芹Cao Xueqin (c. 1715-c. 1764), accepted author of A Dream of Red Mansions 紅樓夢|红楼梦[Hóng​lóu​Mèng]
欧芹parsley (Petroselinum sativum)歐芹
西芹celery
Exercise 1 of 4

Words with 芹

What does 芹菜 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 芹

芹 is often found in stir-fries, salads, and soups, lending a fresh flavor to various dishes.

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