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荬 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
荬mǎiendive; sow-thistlex, 9 strokes, radical 艹
mǎi(mai3)mai T3
  1. 1endive; sow-thistle
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March 24, 2026

荬(蕒)mǎi(mai3)

The character 荬 (mǎi) refers to certain types of leafy vegetables, particularly endive and sow-thistle. It is commonly used in culinary contexts, especially in the preparation of salads or traditional dishes that incorporate these greens.

Strokes9Radical艹
Cultural note

In Chinese cuisine, fresh greens like 荬 (endive) are often used in salads and soups, reflecting the importance of fresh vegetables in maintaining health and balance in traditional diets.

Memory tip

Imagine a leafy green plant (the radical 艹) with a 'ma' sound like 'mighty' in its name, growing strong and vibrant in a garden. Visualize a giant endive cheering, saying 'I’m mighty, eat me!' This connects the character's form and pronunciation to its meaning.

Meanings of 荬

mǎi(mai3)
1endive; sow-thistle
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 荬

荬Simplified
蕒Traditional
9Strokes
艹Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 荬

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Podcast: 荬

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AI Study Notes for 荬

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 荬 with other similar-looking vegetable names, so it's important to remember its specific culinary use. It is more commonly used in informal settings, such as conversations about cooking or gardening. Be cautious with the tones, as mispronouncing the 'mǎi' can lead to confusion with other words.

HSK Study Tips

Although 荬 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it relates to food terminology that may appear in higher levels. Students should focus on building a strong vocabulary around food-related terms and linking them to daily conversations.

Common Mistakes

A common mistake is writing 荬 with the wrong radical, leading to confusion with other characters. Make sure to use the correct radical 艹 for plant-related terms.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 荬

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Etymology of 荬

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

plant

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

Origin

荬 = 艹 + 买. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 荬

IDS Structure⿱艹买
荬Full character
=
艹cao3
top
买mai3
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 荬?

How to say endive; sow-thistle in Chinese

“endive; sow-thistle” in Chinese is荬mǎi

The character 荬 (mǎi) refers to certain types of leafy vegetables, particularly endive and sow-thistle. It is commonly used in culinary contexts, especially in the preparation of salads or traditional dishes that incorporate these greens.

When to use 荬

Learners often confuse 荬 with other similar-looking vegetable names, so it's important to remember its specific culinary use. It is more commonly used in informal settings, such as conversations about cooking or gardening. Be cautious with the tones, as mispronouncing the 'mǎi' can lead to confusion with other words.

What learners get wrong

A common mistake is writing 荬 with the wrong radical, leading to confusion with other characters. Make sure to use the correct radical 艹 for plant-related terms.

Write 荬

荬

Practice writing 荬 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Word Family of 荬

Words containing this character1
荬mǎiendive蕒

Frequently Asked Questions about 荬

Similar vegetables include 苣蕒菜 (ju4 mai3 cai4) and other types of leafy greens commonly used in Chinese cooking.

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