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粢 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
粢zīcommon millet; grain offered as a sacrificeg, 12 strokes, radical 米
zī(zi1) T1
  1. 1common millet; grain offered as a sacrifice
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March 24, 2026

粢zī(zi1)

The character 粢 (zī) refers to a type of grain, specifically common millet. It is often used in agricultural contexts and can also signify grains that are offered as sacrifices in traditional ceremonies, highlighting its importance in historical and cultural practices related to food and spirituality.

Strokes12Radical米
Cultural Note

In ancient China, millet was a staple food and played a crucial role in agriculture and rituals. The use of 粢 in sacrificial offerings reflects the agricultural roots of Chinese spirituality and the significance of grains in sustenance and prosperity.

Memory Tip

Imagine a small bowl of millet grains (represented by 粢) being offered to the gods. The character itself has a radical for 'grain' (米) at the bottom, which can remind you of the small particles of millet. The pronunciation 'zī' sounds like a gentle whisper as you offer the grain in reverence.

Meanings of 粢

zī(zi1)
1common millet; grain offered as a sacrifice
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 粢

粢Simplified
12Strokes
米Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 粢

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Podcast: 粢

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AI Study Notes for 粢

Usage Notes

Be aware that 粢 is less commonly used in everyday conversation, so it may come across as formal or literary. When discussing grains or cereals in general, terms like '米' (mǐ - rice) or '谷物' (gǔwù - grains) are more frequently employed. Avoid confusing 粢 with similar-sounding words to prevent miscommunication.

HSK Study Tips

Although 粢 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it connects with other agricultural terms like '谷' (gǔ - grain) and '米' (mǐ - rice) often studied at the same level. Focus on understanding the context in which 粢 might appear, especially in historical or cultural texts.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 粢 with other grains like '米' (mǐ) and use it interchangeably, leading to inaccuracies. For example, saying '我喜欢米' (Wǒ xǐhuān mǐ - I like millet) instead of '我喜欢粢' (Wǒ xǐhuān zī) when specifically referring to millet.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 粢

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Etymology of 粢

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

millet

Semantic (meaning)米
+
Phonetic (sound)次
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

粢 = 米 + 次. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 粢

IDS Structure⿱次米
粢Full Character
=
次ci4
top
米Mi3
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 粢?

How to say common millet; grain offered as a sacrifice in Chinese

“common millet; grain offered as a sacrifice” in Chinese is粢zī

The character 粢 (zī) refers to a type of grain, specifically common millet. It is often used in agricultural contexts and can also signify grains that are offered as sacrifices in traditional ceremonies, highlighting its importance in historical and cultural practices related to food and spirituality.

When to use 粢

Be aware that 粢 is less commonly used in everyday conversation, so it may come across as formal or literary. When discussing grains or cereals in general, terms like '米' (mǐ - rice) or '谷物' (gǔwù - grains) are more frequently employed. Avoid confusing 粢 with similar-sounding words to prevent miscommunication.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 粢 with other grains like '米' (mǐ) and use it interchangeably, leading to inaccuracies. For example, saying '我喜欢米' (Wǒ xǐhuān mǐ - I like millet) instead of '我喜欢粢' (Wǒ xǐhuān zī) when specifically referring to millet.

Write 粢

粢

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

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Word Family of 粢

Words Containing This Character1
粢zīcommon millet

Frequently Asked Questions about 粢

粢 represents an important staple grain in Chinese history, used in both daily meals and religious offerings.

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