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茨 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
茨
cí
thatching; caltrop, Tribulus terrestris
ns, 9 strokes, radical 艹, rank #10768, Very Hard
茨
cí
Caltrop or puncture vine (Tribulus terrestris)
unknown, 9 strokes, radical 艹, rank #10768, Very Hard
茨
cí
to thatch (a roof)
unknown, 9 strokes, radical 艹, rank #10768, Very Hard
cí(ci2)ci T2
1thatching; caltrop, Tribulus terrestris
2Caltrop or puncture vine (Tribulus terrestris)
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March 24, 2026
茨cí(ci2)
The character 茨 (cí) primarily refers to thatching, which is a traditional roofing material made from dried plant materials such as straw or reeds. It can also denote the caltrop plant (Tribulus terrestris), known for its spiky seed pods. In certain contexts, it can imply the act of covering a roof with thatch.
Strokes9Radical艹Frequency#10768DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
Thatching is an ancient roofing technique still used in some rural areas of China, reflecting traditional building practices and the importance of local materials in architecture. The caltrop plant is often associated with traditional herbal medicine in Chinese culture.
Memory tip
Imagine a roof covered in straw (thatching) with sharp caltrop plants poking out. The character 茨 looks like a roof (亠) with grass (艹) on top, suggesting it is something that grows and is used for roofing.
Meanings of 茨
cí(ci2)
1thatching; caltrop, Tribulus terrestris
2Caltrop or puncture vine (Tribulus terrestris)
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
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About 茨
茨Simplified
9Strokes
艹Radical
地名míngcíplace name (p.n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 茨
Podcast: 茨
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AI study notes for 茨
Usage Notes
While 茨 can be used to refer to thatching, it is less commonly used in everyday conversation, making it more suitable for formal or literary contexts. Be cautious with pronunciation, as misplacing the tone can lead to confusion with other similar-sounding words.
HSK Study Tips
Although 茨 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, understanding it can enhance comprehension of related terms in advanced studies, particularly those involving traditional architecture or botany in Chinese. Focus on the character's radicals and how they contribute to its meaning.
Common Mistakes
Learners might confuse 茨 with similar characters, such as 茶 (tea) or 词 (word). For example, saying '我喜欢茨' (I like thatching) instead of '我喜欢茶' (I like tea) is a common mistake due to their phonetic similarity.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 茨
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Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 茨 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.
茨 = 艹 + 次. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 茨
IDS Structure⿱艹次
茨Full character
=
艹cao3
top
次ci4
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 茨?
How to say thatching; caltrop, Tribulus terrestris in Chinese
“thatching; caltrop, Tribulus terrestris” in Chinese is茨cí
The character 茨 (cí) primarily refers to thatching, which is a traditional roofing material made from dried plant materials such as straw or reeds. It can also denote the caltrop plant (Tribulus terrestris), known for its spiky seed pods. In certain contexts, it can imply the act of covering a roof with thatch.
When to use 茨
While 茨 can be used to refer to thatching, it is less commonly used in everyday conversation, making it more suitable for formal or literary contexts. Be cautious with pronunciation, as misplacing the tone can lead to confusion with other similar-sounding words.
What learners get wrong
Learners might confuse 茨 with similar characters, such as 茶 (tea) or 词 (word). For example, saying '我喜欢茨' (I like thatching) instead of '我喜欢茶' (I like tea) is a common mistake due to their phonetic similarity.
Write 茨
茨
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Practice writing 茨 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 茨
茨 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 3 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.
他的目的地是乔伯姆公地，那里和他在科____沃尔德的家离得很远。
His destination was Chobham Common, a long way from his Cotswold home.
Example sentences for 茨 (10)
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1
他的目的地是乔伯姆公地，那里和他在科茨沃尔德的家离得很远。
tā de mùdìdì shì qiáo bà mǔ gōng dì， nàlǐ hé tā zài kē cí wò ěr dé de jiā lí de hěnyuǎn。
His destination was Chobham Common, a long way from his Cotswold home.
2
在寒冷彻骨的海上，基茨开始发烧，不断地咯血。
zài hánlěng chè gǔ de hǎi shàng， jī cí kāishǐ fāshāo， búduàn dì gē xuè。
On the chilly seas, Keats became feverish, continually coughing up blood.
