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芽 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
芽
yá
bud
HSK 7, n, 7 strokes, radical 艹, rank #14698, Very Hard
芽
yá
sprout
HSK 7, n, 7 strokes, radical 艹, rank #14698, Very Hard
芽
yá
bud, shoot, sprout
HSK 7, n, 7 strokes, radical 艹, rank #14698, Very Hard
yá(ya2)ya T2
1bud
2sprout
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March 24, 2026
芽yá(ya2)
The character 芽 (yá) refers to a 'bud' or 'sprout', typically indicating the early growth stage of a plant. It is commonly used in contexts related to gardening, botany, and agriculture, symbolizing new beginnings and growth.
Strokes7Radical艹Frequency#14698DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, the bud symbolizes hope and renewal, often associated with the Spring Festival when nature awakens from winter. It reflects the importance of agriculture and connection to nature in Chinese life.
Memory tip
Imagine a small green bud (芽) pushing through the soil, eager to reach the sunlight. The character resembles a sprouting plant with its two 'leaves' (the components) reaching upwards, which helps you remember that it signifies growth.
Meanings of 芽
yá(ya2)
1bud
2sprout
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 芽 means.
About 芽
芽Simplified
7Strokes
艹Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#14698Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 芽
Podcast: 芽
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AI study notes for 芽
Quick Contrast
萌 (méng) - use 芽 (yá) when specifically referring to a 'bud' or 'sprout', while 萌 (méng) can imply the broader concept of sprouting or budding in a more general sense.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 芽 (bud) with similar characters like 脱 (to shed) due to their visual similarities. 芽 is more commonly used in informal contexts, such as gardening conversations, while its formal usages can be found in literature discussing plant biology.
HSK Study Tips
Although 芽 is not included in the HSK levels, it is relevant for learners studying nature-related vocabulary. Focus on its usage in context with other plant-related terms like 植物 (zhíwù - plant) and 花 (huā - flower).
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly write 芽 with the wrong radicals, confusing it with characters like 牙 (yá - tooth). Ensure you remember that 芽 has the plant radical (艹) at the top, indicating its botanical meaning.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 芽
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Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 芽 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.
芽 = 艹 + 牙. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 芽
IDS Structure⿱艹牙
芽Full character
=
艹cao3
top
牙ya2
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 芽?
How to say bud in Chinese
“bud” in Chinese is芽yá
The character 芽 (yá) refers to a 'bud' or 'sprout', typically indicating the early growth stage of a plant. It is commonly used in contexts related to gardening, botany, and agriculture, symbolizing new beginnings and growth.
When to use 芽
Learners often confuse 芽 (bud) with similar characters like 脱 (to shed) due to their visual similarities. 芽 is more commonly used in informal contexts, such as gardening conversations, while its formal usages can be found in literature discussing plant biology.
芽 or something close to it
萌 (méng) - use 芽 (yá) when specifically referring to a 'bud' or 'sprout', while 萌 (méng) can imply the broader concept of sprouting or budding in a more general sense.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mistakenly write 芽 with the wrong radicals, confusing it with characters like 牙 (yá - tooth). Ensure you remember that 芽 has the plant radical (艹) at the top, indicating its botanical meaning.
Write 芽
芽
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Practice writing 芽 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 芽
芽 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.
有一些种子发____快，所以差不多每天得察看一下。
Some seed varieties germinate fast, so check every day or so.
