耕耘 (gēngyún) means 'to plow and cultivate land,' often used metaphorically to refer to hard work and diligent effort in any field or endeavor. It emphasizes the importance of nurturing and developing skills, projects, or relationships over time.
HSK 7, 16 strokes, Hard
gēngyún(geng1yun2) T1
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
May 27, 2026
耕耘gēngyún(geng1yun2)
耕耘 (gēngyún) means 'to plow and cultivate land,' often used metaphorically to refer to hard work and diligent effort in any field or endeavor. It emphasizes the importance of nurturing and developing skills, projects, or relationships over time.
Strokes16Frequency#—DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, hard work is highly valued, and the concept of耕耘 reflects the Confucian ideal of diligence and perseverance. It is often used in educational contexts to encourage students to invest effort in their studies.
Memory Tip
Imagine a farmer (耕) diligently plowing (耕) the soil while also nurturing (耘) plants. Picture him sweating and toiling in the sun, knowing that his hard work will yield a bountiful harvest. The sound 'gēng' can remind you of 'gang' as in 'gang up on work,' emphasizing collective effort in cultivation.
About 耕耘
耕耘Simplified
16Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 耕耘
Podcast: 耕耘
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 耕耘
Quick Contrast
耕作 (gēngzuò) - use 耕耘 for a broader metaphorical sense of diligent effort, while 耕作 is more specifically about the act of farming.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a farmer (耕) diligently plowing (耕) the soil while also nurturing (耘) plants. Picture him sweating and toiling in the sun, knowing that his hard work will yield a bountiful harvest. The sound 'gēng' can remind you of 'gang' as in 'gang up on work,' emphasizing collective effort in cultivation.
Usage Notes
耕耘 is often used in both formal and informal contexts, particularly in discussions about hard work, education, or personal development. A common mistake is to confuse it with just '耕' (to plow), which lacks the broader metaphorical meaning.
HSK Study Tips
For HSK Level 7, students should focus on using 耕耘 in both literal and metaphorical contexts, connecting it to other vocabulary related to work, perseverance, and growth. Think of phrases like '耕耘人生' (cultivating life) to deepen understanding.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, hard work is highly valued, and the concept of耕耘 reflects the Confucian ideal of diligence and perseverance. It is often used in educational contexts to encourage students to invest effort in their studies.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 耕耘 with just 耕 (gēng), which means to plow but lacks the broader meaning of cultivation. For instance, saying '我耕很多' is incorrect; instead, say '我耕耘了很多努力' (I have put in a lot of effort).
AI-enhanced 2026-05-27
Pronunciation of 耕耘
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 耕耘 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 耕耘 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
Cultural Notes for 耕耘
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, hard work is highly valued, and the concept of耕耘 reflects the Confucian ideal of diligence and perseverance. It is often used in educational contexts to encourage students to invest effort in their studies.
Frequently Asked Questions about 耕耘
Yes, you can say '我在学业上耕耘了很多时间' (I have cultivated a lot of time in my studies).
No, while it literally refers to plowing, it is commonly used metaphorically for any diligent effort.
You might consider words like 努力 (nǔlì, to strive) or 培养 (péiyǎng, to cultivate) depending on the context.
