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荊 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
荊jīngthorns, brambles; surnamex, 10 strokes, radical 艹
jīng(jing1)jing T1
  1. 1thorns, brambles; surname
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March 24, 2026

荊jīng(jing1)

The character 荊 (jīng) primarily refers to thorns or brambles, often used in botanical contexts or to describe something that is difficult to navigate through. Additionally, it can serve as a surname in China, indicating its cultural significance beyond its literal meaning.

Strokes10Radical艹
Cultural note

In Chinese history, 荊 refers to the thorny plants found in rural areas, which symbolize struggle and resilience. Such plants are often mentioned in poetry to convey the beauty of nature despite its challenges.

Memory tip

Imagine a jungle where you are stuck in brambles (荊) - the sharp thorns (荊) are so prickly that you can't move! The character has the radical '艸' (grass), which hints at its connection to plants and nature, while the pronunciation 'jīng' can remind you of a sharp sting from a thorn.

Meanings of 荊

jīng(jing1)
1thorns, brambles; surname
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 荊

荊Simplified
10Strokes
艹Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 荊

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Podcast: 荊

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AI Study Notes for 荊

Usage Notes

When using 荊, be careful not to confuse it with similar-sounding characters. It is more common in literary or formal contexts when describing nature. Collocations include 荊棘 (jīng jí), meaning 'thorns,' where 荊 emphasizes the thorny aspect of the concept.

HSK Study Tips

While 荊 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary list, students should focus on mastering its radicals and components. Understanding 荊 can deepen knowledge of related characters, especially those involving plants or nature, which often appear in HSK materials.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 荊 with similar characters like 景 (jǐng, scenery) due to their phonetic similarities. Remember, 荊 relates to thorns, while 景 relates to views or landscapes.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 荊

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Etymology of 荊

Decomposition of 荊

IDS Structure⿱艹刑
荊Full character
=
艹cao3
top
刑Xing2
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 荊?

How to say thorns, brambles; surname in Chinese

“thorns, brambles; surname” in Chinese is荊jīng

The character 荊 (jīng) primarily refers to thorns or brambles, often used in botanical contexts or to describe something that is difficult to navigate through. Additionally, it can serve as a surname in China, indicating its cultural significance beyond its literal meaning.

When to use 荊

When using 荊, be careful not to confuse it with similar-sounding characters. It is more common in literary or formal contexts when describing nature. Collocations include 荊棘 (jīng jí), meaning 'thorns,' where 荊 emphasizes the thorny aspect of the concept.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 荊 with similar characters like 景 (jǐng, scenery) due to their phonetic similarities. Remember, 荊 relates to thorns, while 景 relates to views or landscapes.

Write 荊

荊

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Word Family of 荊

Words containing this character15
荆棘jīngjíbrambles荊棘
荆jīngchaste tree or berry (Vitex agnus-castus)荊
荆州Jingzhou prefecture-level city on Changjiang in Hubei荊州
披荆斩棘to break through hardships披荊斬棘
紫荆Chinese redbud (Cercis chinensis)紫荊
负荆请罪fig. to offer sb a humble apology負荊請罪
荆门Jingmen prefecture-level city in Hubei荊門
荆轲Jing Ke (-227 BC), celebrated in verse and fiction as would-be assassin of King Ying Zheng of Qin 秦嬴政 (later the First Emperor 秦始皇)荊軻
荆州市Jingzhou prefecture-level city on Changjiang in Hubei荊州市
荆江Jingjiang section of the Changjiang River 長江|长江, Hunan荊江
荆门市Jingmen prefecture-level city in Hubei荊門市
荆山Mt Jingshan in Hubei荊山
荆州区Jingzhou district of Jingzhou city 荊州市|荆州市[Jīng​zhōu​shì], Hubei荊州區
问荆field horsetail (Equisetum arvense)問荊
荆棘载途lit. a path covered in brambles荊棘載途
Exercise 1 of 4

Words with 荊

What does 荆棘 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 荊

No, 荊 is more often found in literary works or specific contexts rather than in daily speech.

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