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埂 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
埂gěngditch (for irrigation); holeng, 10 strokes, radical 土, rank #54752, Very Hard
埂gěngstrip of high groundunknown, 10 strokes, radical 土, rank #54752, Very Hard
埂gěnglow earth dyke separating fieldsunknown, 10 strokes, radical 土, rank #54752, Very Hard
gěng(geng3) T3
  1. 1ditch (for irrigation); hole
  2. 2strip of high ground
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

埂gěng(geng3)

The character 埂 (gěng) refers to a raised strip of land or a low earth dyke typically found in agricultural contexts. It is commonly used to describe irrigation ditches or the boundaries between fields, playing a crucial role in managing water flow and soil quality in farming practices.

Strokes10Radical土Frequency#54752DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese agriculture, the management of water resources is vital, making terms like 埂 essential for understanding farming practices. This reflects the long-standing relationship between Chinese culture and the land.

Memory Tip

Imagine a farmer named 'Geng' standing on a raised strip of land (埂) that keeps water in his fields. The character has the '土' (earth) radical which connects to its meaning relating to land and agriculture, while the sound 'gěng' can be remembered by thinking of 'Geng the Farmer' guarding his crops.

Meanings of 埂

gěng(geng3)
1ditch (for irrigation); hole
2strip of high ground
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 埂

埂Simplified
10Strokes
土Radical
名语素míngcínoun root (n.root)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 埂

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Podcast: 埂

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AI Study Notes for 埂

Usage Notes

When using 埂 in conversation, ensure you are in an agricultural context, as it may not be understood in urban settings. It's often used in combination with words related to farming or water management. Pay attention to the pronunciation; a common mistake is confusing it with similar-sounding words.

HSK Study Tips

Although 埂 is not part of the standard HSK vocabulary, it relates to agricultural terms that may appear in advanced studies. Learners should focus on understanding the context in which it is used, especially in discussions about farming or landscapes.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 埂 with the character 坑 (kēng), which means 'pit' or 'hole.' For example, saying '我在埂里' (wǒ zài gěng lǐ – 'I am in the ditch') is incorrect; it should be '我在坑里' (wǒ zài kēng lǐ).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 埂

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Etymology of 埂

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 土 represents the meaning and 更 represents the sound.

Memory Hint

earth

Semantic (meaning)土
+
Phonetic (sound)更
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 埂

Phonosemantic compound. 土 represents the meaning and 更 represents the sound.

  1. 1The meaning half土 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half更 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawayearth
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 埂? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 埂?

Decomposition of 埂

IDS Structure⿰土更
埂Full Character
=
土Tu3
left
更geng1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 埂?

How to say ditch (for irrigation); hole in Chinese

“ditch (for irrigation); hole” in Chinese is埂gěng

The character 埂 (gěng) refers to a raised strip of land or a low earth dyke typically found in agricultural contexts. It is commonly used to describe irrigation ditches or the boundaries between fields, playing a crucial role in managing water flow and soil quality in farming practices.

When to use 埂

When using 埂 in conversation, ensure you are in an agricultural context, as it may not be understood in urban settings. It's often used in combination with words related to farming or water management. Pay attention to the pronunciation; a common mistake is confusing it with similar-sounding words.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 埂 with the character 坑 (kēng), which means 'pit' or 'hole.' For example, saying '我在埂里' (wǒ zài gěng lǐ – 'I am in the ditch') is incorrect; it should be '我在坑里' (wǒ zài kēng lǐ).

Write 埂

埂

Practice writing 埂 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 埂

Words Containing This Character3
埂gěngstrip of high ground
田埂embankment or foothpath between paddy fields
土埂embankment or foothpath between paddy fields
Exercise 1 of 3

Compound Meaning

What does 埂 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 埂

You can say '田埂 (tián gěng)' to mean 'the ridge between fields'.

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