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薺 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
薺jìwater chestnut; water caltropx, 18 strokes, radical 艹
jì(ji4) T4
  1. 1water chestnut; water caltrop
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

薺jì(ji4)

The character 薺 (jì) refers to a type of aquatic plant, commonly known as water chestnut or water caltrop. It is often used in Chinese cuisine, particularly in stir-fries and salads, due to its crunchy texture and slightly sweet flavor. This character is less commonly encountered outside of culinary contexts, making it more specialized in usage.

Strokes18Radical艹
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, water chestnuts are a symbol of good fortune and are often included in festive dishes during Lunar New Year celebrations. They are prized not only for their taste but also for their cultural significance in promoting prosperity.

Memory Tip

Imagine a water chestnut floating in a pond, its green shell resembling a small boat. The character 薺 has the radical for grass (艹) on top, which connects to its plant nature, while the bottom part (奇) can remind you of something peculiar or unique, like the unusual shape of the water chestnut.

Meanings of 薺

jì(ji4)
1water chestnut; water caltrop
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 薺

薺Simplified
18Strokes
艹Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 薺

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Podcast: 薺

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 薺

Usage Notes

Common mistakes include confusing 薺 with similar-sounding characters or using it inappropriately in non-culinary contexts. It is generally more informal and specific to food discussions; thus, it may not be used in academic or formal texts. Be mindful of its tone when speaking to avoid miscommunication.

HSK Study Tips

Although 薺 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it can be beneficial for learners at higher levels who are interested in food vocabulary. Students should focus on related characters and terms in cooking or botany to deepen their understanding of the context in which 薺 is used.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 薺 with other food-related characters, such as 菜 (cài) which means vegetable. For example, saying '我喜欢薺' instead of '我喜欢菜' when referring to 'I like vegetables' is incorrect. Always clarify the specific type of food you're discussing.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 薺

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Etymology of 薺

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

plant

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 薺

  1. 1The meaning half艹 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half齊 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawayplant
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

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

Want the full history of 薺? 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 薺?

Decomposition of 薺

IDS Structure⿱艹齊
薺Full Character
=
艹cao3
top
齊qi2
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 薺?

How to say water chestnut; water caltrop in Chinese

“water chestnut; water caltrop” in Chinese is薺jì

The character 薺 (jì) refers to a type of aquatic plant, commonly known as water chestnut or water caltrop. It is often used in Chinese cuisine, particularly in stir-fries and salads, due to its crunchy texture and slightly sweet flavor. This character is less commonly encountered outside of culinary contexts, making it more specialized in usage.

When to use 薺

Common mistakes include confusing 薺 with similar-sounding characters or using it inappropriately in non-culinary contexts. It is generally more informal and specific to food discussions; thus, it may not be used in academic or formal texts. Be mindful of its tone when speaking to avoid miscommunication.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 薺 with other food-related characters, such as 菜 (cài) which means vegetable. For example, saying '我喜欢薺' instead of '我喜欢菜' when referring to 'I like vegetables' is incorrect. Always clarify the specific type of food you're discussing.

Write 薺

薺

Practice writing 薺 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 薺

Words Containing This Character3
荠菜shepherd's purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris)薺菜
荠jìshepherd's purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris)薺
荸荠Chinese water chestnut荸薺
Exercise 1 of 3

Compound Meaning

What does 荠菜 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 薺

Water chestnuts are commonly used in stir-fries, salads, and as a crunchy ingredient in various dishes, adding texture and a mild sweetness.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 薺?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.