HSK 7, n, 10 strokes, radical 耒, rank #21602, Very Hard
耕
gēng
to till
HSK 7, unknown, 10 strokes, radical 耒, rank #21602, Very Hard
gēng(geng1)geng T1
1to plow, to cultivate
2to till
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March 24, 2026
耕(畊)gēng(geng1)
The character 耕 (gēng) refers to the act of plowing or cultivating land for agricultural purposes. It is commonly used in contexts related to farming, agriculture, and the labor involved in preparing soil for crops. This character emphasizes the hard work and effort required in the agricultural process.
Strokes10Radical耒Frequency#21602DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
Agriculture has deep roots in Chinese culture, and the practice of 耕 reflects the importance of farming in sustaining communities. Festivals like the Spring Festival often celebrate the start of the farming season, highlighting the significance of cultivation.
Memory Tip
Imagine a farmer (耕) with a plow (the horizontal line at the bottom) pushing through the soil. The sound 'gēng' resembles the sound of a plow cutting through the earth, helping you remember both the meaning and pronunciation.
Meanings of 耕
gēng(geng1)
1to plow, to cultivate
2to till
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 耕 means.
About 耕
耕Simplified
畊Traditional
10Strokes
耒Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#21602Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7
Podcast: 耕
Podcast: 耕
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AI Study Notes for 耕
Quick Contrast
耕 (gēng) vs 种 (zhòng) — use 耕 when referring specifically to the act of plowing or preparing land, while 种 focuses on the act of planting seeds.
Usage Notes
When using 耕, it is important to be mindful of its context in agricultural discussions. Common collocations include 耕地 (gēngdì), meaning 'to plow the land.' Avoid confusion with similar-sounding terms by paying attention to the tone; gēng is pronounced with a high level tone.
HSK Study Tips
While 耕 is not an HSK vocabulary word, it connects to HSK Level 2 words related to nature and agriculture, such as 土 (tǔ, soil) and 农 (nóng, farming). Students should focus on understanding its usage in agricultural contexts to enhance vocabulary retention.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 耕 with other similar characters like 耕种 (gēng zhǒng), which means 'to sow.' Remember that 耕 focuses specifically on the act of plowing. Another mistake is mispronouncing it; ensure you use the correct high tone, gēng.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 耕
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How Well Do You Know 耕?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 耕 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.
耕 = 耒 + 井. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 耕
IDS Structure⿰耒井
耕Full Character
=
耒lei3
left
井Jing3
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 耕?
How to say to plow, to cultivate in Chinese
“to plow, to cultivate” in Chinese is耕gēng
The character 耕 (gēng) refers to the act of plowing or cultivating land for agricultural purposes. It is commonly used in contexts related to farming, agriculture, and the labor involved in preparing soil for crops. This character emphasizes the hard work and effort required in the agricultural process.
When to use 耕
When using 耕, it is important to be mindful of its context in agricultural discussions. Common collocations include 耕地 (gēngdì), meaning 'to plow the land.' Avoid confusion with similar-sounding terms by paying attention to the tone; gēng is pronounced with a high level tone.
耕 or something close to it
耕 (gēng) vs 种 (zhòng) — use 耕 when referring specifically to the act of plowing or preparing land, while 种 focuses on the act of planting seeds.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 耕 with other similar characters like 耕种 (gēng zhǒng), which means 'to sow.' Remember that 耕 focuses specifically on the act of plowing. Another mistake is mispronouncing it; ensure you use the correct high tone, gēng.
Write 耕
耕
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Practice writing 耕 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 耕
耕 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.
山间的一小块____地是不可能养活一大家人的。
A smallholding in the hills could not support a large family.
Example Sentences for 耕 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
山间的一小块耕地是不可能养活一大家人的。
shān jiān de yī xiǎo kuài gēng dì shì bù kě néng yǎng huó yī dà jiā rén de。
A smallholding in the hills could not support a large family.
2
他有将近1,000公顷的草场和耕地。
tā yǒu jiāng jìn1,000 1,000 gōng qǐng de cǎo cháng hé gēng。
He had nearly a thousand acres of grazing and arable land.
3
他们会在其余土地上实施较轻程度的集约化耕种吗？
tā mén huì zài qí yú tǔ dì shàng shí shī jiào qīng chéng dù de jí yuē huà gēng zhǒng ma？
Will they farm the rest of their land less intensively?
