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荠 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
荠jìwater chestnut; water caltropnz, 9 strokes, radical 艹, rank #62402, Very Hard
荠qíwater chestnut; water caltropnz, 9 strokes, radical 艹, rank #62402, Very Hard
jì(ji4)
primary
 T4
  1. 1water chestnut; water caltrop
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

荠(薺)jì(ji4)

The character 荠 (jì) refers to a type of aquatic plant commonly known as water chestnut or water caltrop. It is often used in Chinese cuisine for its crunchy texture and is associated with various health benefits. This character is less commonly used in everyday conversation compared to other vegetables.

Strokes9Radical艹Frequency#62402DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, water chestnuts are not only valued for their taste but are also believed to have health benefits, such as improving digestion. They frequently appear in traditional dishes during festivals and celebrations, symbolizing abundance and prosperity.

Memory Tip

Imagine a water chestnut floating in a pond, resembling a small, chest-like treasure. The character 荠 has a radical for plants (艹) at the top, representing its nature as a vegetable, while the bottom part (耆) could remind you of an elder (耆) who knows the best ways to prepare these delicious aquatic treats.

Meanings of 荠

jì(ji4)
primary
1water chestnut; water caltrop
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 荠

荠Simplified
薺Traditional
9Strokes
艹Radical
其它专名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 荠

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Podcast: 荠

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AI Study Notes for 荠

Usage Notes

While 荠 is understood in culinary contexts, it might be confused with other similar vegetables. It is more often found in formal or written Chinese, particularly in recipes or discussions about regional cuisine. Be cautious with the tone; it uses the fourth tone (jì), which can be easily mispronounced.

HSK Study Tips

Although 荠 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it connects to HSK Level 4 words related to food and cooking. Students should focus on its usage in sentences about dishes or ingredients to enhance their vocabulary in culinary contexts.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 荠 with similar characters like 薺 (jiā), which refers to a different plant. An incorrect usage might be saying '我喜欢吃薺' (I like to eat jiā), instead of '我喜欢吃荠'.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 荠

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Etymology of 荠

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

plant

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 荠

  1. 1The meaning half艹 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half齐 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 荠? 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 荠?

Decomposition of 荠

IDS Structure⿱艹齐
荠Full Character
=
艹cao3
top
齐Qi2
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 荠?

How to say water chestnut; water caltrop in Chinese

“water chestnut; water caltrop” in Chinese is荠jì

The character 荠 (jì) refers to a type of aquatic plant commonly known as water chestnut or water caltrop. It is often used in Chinese cuisine for its crunchy texture and is associated with various health benefits. This character is less commonly used in everyday conversation compared to other vegetables.

When to use 荠

While 荠 is understood in culinary contexts, it might be confused with other similar vegetables. It is more often found in formal or written Chinese, particularly in recipes or discussions about regional cuisine. Be cautious with the tone; it uses the fourth tone (jì), which can be easily mispronounced.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 荠 with similar characters like 薺 (jiā), which refers to a different plant. An incorrect usage might be saying '我喜欢吃薺' (I like to eat jiā), instead of '我喜欢吃荠'.

Write 荠

荠

Practice writing 荠 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 荠

Words Containing This Character3
荠菜shepherd's purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris)薺菜
荠jìshepherd's purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris)薺
荸荠Chinese water chestnut荸薺
Exercise 1 of 3

Compound Meaning

What does 荠菜 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 荠

No, 荠 is more often found in written contexts, particularly in recipes or discussions about specific dishes.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 荠?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.