Stroke order, etymology and audio for every word.Start learning
粮食 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
粮食
liángshi
foodstuff
HSK 5, n, 22 strokes, rank #10421, Hard
粮食
liángshi
cereals
HSK 5, n, 22 strokes, rank #10421, Hard
liángshi(liang2shi5)liang shi T2
1foodstuff
2cereals
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
粮食(糧食)liángshi(liang2shi5)
粮食 (liángshí) refers to foodstuffs, particularly grains and cereals that are staple foods in a diet. Commonly used in contexts relating to agriculture, nutrition, and food security, it emphasizes the essential role of these items in sustaining populations.
Strokes22Frequency#10421DifficultyHard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, grains like rice and wheat are not just food but also symbolize wealth and prosperity. The emphasis on '粮食' reflects the importance of agricultural success in Chinese history and its influence on social stability.
Memory tip
Imagine a large grain field (粮) where food (食) is harvested. The character 粮 has a component that resembles a field, hinting at its agricultural roots, while 食 symbolizes food consumption. Picture yourself gathering grains from the field and enjoying a hearty meal, reinforcing the connection between the characters and their meanings.
Meanings of 粮食
liángshi(liang2shi5)
1foodstuff
2cereals
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 粮食 means.
About 粮食
粮食Simplified
糧食Traditional
22Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#10421Frequency Rank
种Measure Word
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L5IntermediateTOCFLL4HSKKL2CEFRB1
Podcast: 粮食
Podcast: 粮食
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI study notes for 粮食
Quick Contrast
谷物 (gǔwù) refers specifically to grains, while 粮食 (liángshí) encompasses a broader category of foodstuffs, including grains and other staple foods.
Usage Notes
When using '粮食', be mindful that it often refers to staple grains rather than all types of food. A common mistake is to confuse it with '食物' (shíwù), which is a broader term for food in general. In formal contexts, it's often used in discussions about food security or agricultural policies.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 5 word, '粮食' connects with other vocabulary about food and health (e.g., 食物, 饮食). Focus on understanding its use in sentences related to nutrition and economics, as well as its collocations with verbs like '供应' (provide) or '储存' (store).
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 粮食 with 食物, mistakenly using them interchangeably. For example, saying '我喜欢吃粮食' (I like to eat food) is incorrect if referring to all types of food; it should be '我喜欢吃食物'.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 粮食
Premium — Locked
Tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 粮食, say it back, see your pitch against the model voice, and earn XP towards mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 粮食 through them.
Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.
How well do you know 粮食?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 粮食 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
粮食 (liángshí) refers to foodstuffs, particularly grains and cereals that are staple foods in a diet. Commonly used in contexts relating to agriculture, nutrition, and food security, it emphasizes the essential role of these items in sustaining populations.
When to use 粮食
When using '粮食', be mindful that it often refers to staple grains rather than all types of food. A common mistake is to confuse it with '食物' (shíwù), which is a broader term for food in general. In formal contexts, it's often used in discussions about food security or agricultural policies.
粮食 or something close to it
谷物 (gǔwù) refers specifically to grains, while 粮食 (liángshí) encompasses a broader category of foodstuffs, including grains and other staple foods.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 粮食 with 食物, mistakenly using them interchangeably. For example, saying '我喜欢吃粮食' (I like to eat food) is incorrect if referring to all types of food; it should be '我喜欢吃食物'.
Write 粮食
粮
食
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 粮食 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
Grammar patterns of 粮食
粮食 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 2 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.
____生产已经跟不上人口增长。
Food production has already fallen behind the population growth.
