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植物 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
植物
zhíwù
botanical
HSK 4, n, 20 strokes, rank #4479, Medium
植物
zhíwù
plant
HSK 4, n, 20 strokes, rank #4479, Medium
植物
zhíwù
vegetation
HSK 4, n, 20 strokes, rank #4479, Medium
zhíwù(zhi2wu4)zhi wu T2
1botanical
2plant
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March 24, 2026
植物zhíwù(zhi2wu4)
植物 (zhíwù) refers to living organisms that belong to the kingdom Plantae, including trees, flowers, and shrubs. In everyday contexts, it is commonly used to discuss nature, gardening, or biology. The term emphasizes the botanical aspect of these organisms.
Strokes20Frequency#4479DifficultyMedium
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, plants are often associated with harmony and prosperity. For example, the practice of keeping certain plants, like bamboo or lucky bamboo, is believed to bring good fortune and positive energy into homes.
Memory tip
Imagine a 'plant' (植物) growing tall and strong, with a sturdy trunk and vibrant leaves. The first character, 植 (zhí), looks like the plant's roots digging into the ground, while the second character, 物 (wù), can remind you of the 'thing' that is a plant. Visualize a 'zhí' (植) plant sprouting from 'wù' (物) ground.
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AI study notes for 植物
Quick Contrast
花 (huā) - use 植物 when referring to plants in general, while 花 specifically denotes flowers.
Usage Notes
Be mindful of the tone when pronouncing 植物; both characters are in the second and fourth tones, respectively. It is often used in both scientific and casual discussions, so it fits both formal and informal contexts. Common collocations include 植物学 (botany) and 植物园 (botanical garden).
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 4 word, 植物 can help you expand your vocabulary related to nature and science. Focus on using it in sentences about the environment or in discussions about gardening and plant care, as these themes are common at this level.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 植物 with similar-sounding words like 生活 (shēnghuó) which means 'life' or 'living.' For example, saying '我喜欢生活' (I like plants) instead of '我喜欢植物' is incorrect. Always use 植物 when discussing plants specifically.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 植物
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植物 (zhíwù) refers to living organisms that belong to the kingdom Plantae, including trees, flowers, and shrubs. In everyday contexts, it is commonly used to discuss nature, gardening, or biology. The term emphasizes the botanical aspect of these organisms.
When to use 植物
Be mindful of the tone when pronouncing 植物; both characters are in the second and fourth tones, respectively. It is often used in both scientific and casual discussions, so it fits both formal and informal contexts. Common collocations include 植物学 (botany) and 植物园 (botanical garden).
植物 or something close to it
花 (huā) - use 植物 when referring to plants in general, while 花 specifically denotes flowers.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 植物 with similar-sounding words like 生活 (shēnghuó) which means 'life' or 'living.' For example, saying '我喜欢生活' (I like plants) instead of '我喜欢植物' is incorrect. Always use 植物 when discussing plants specifically.
Write 植物
植
物
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Grammar patterns of 植物
植物 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.
她种了很多我不熟悉的奇妙____。
She grew many wonderful plants that were unfamiliar to me.
Example sentences for 植物 (10)
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1
她种了很多我不熟悉的奇妙植物。
tā zhǒng le hěn duō wǒ bù shúxi de qímiào zhíwù。
She grew many wonderful plants that were unfamiliar to me.
2
这种植物被用作治疗神经痛时的镇静药。
zhè zhòngzhí wù bèi yòng zuō zhìliáo shénjīng tòng shí de zhènjìng yào。
The plant acts as a sedative in treating neuralgia.
3
这本书包括了有关动植物的一些有用的知识。
zhè běn shūbāo kuò le yǒuguān dòng zhíwù de yìxiē yǒuyòng de zhīshi。
The book includes some useful facts about animal and plant life.
