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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)ji
primary
T4
  1. 1water chestnut; water caltrop
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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

By ear

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About 荠

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

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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
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

荠 = 艹 + 齐. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 荠

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

Parts

Which of these is part 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.

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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 2

Words with 荠

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.

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