Chinese Character: 茎
1. Character Basics
Radical: 艹/cǎo (grass radical)
Stroke Count: 8
Stroke Order:
2. Pronunciation
Pinyin: jīng (first tone)
3. Meaning
Stem (of a plant), stalk
4. Common Words
- 茎秆 (jīng gǎn) - stalk, stem
- 花茎 (huā jīng) - flower stalk
- 根茎 (gēn jīng) - rhizome
- 茎叶 (jīng yè) - stems and leaves
- 茎部 (jīng bù) - stem part
- 地下茎 (dì xià jīng) - underground stem
5. Grammar & Usage
Part of Speech: Mainly used as a noun
Usage Patterns:
- 植物 + 的 + 茎: 竹子的茎 (zhú zi de jīng) - bamboo stem
- 茎 + 名词: 茎秆 (jīng gǎn) - stalk, 茎叶 (jīng yè) - stems and leaves
- 形容词 + 茎: 粗壮的茎 (cū zhuàng de jīng) - thick stem
Note: "茎" is primarily used in botanical or scientific contexts to refer to the main structural part of a plant.
6. Cultural Background
Traditional Medicine: Many plant stems have been used in traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years. For example, the stems of certain herbs are believed to have medicinal properties.
Agriculture: Understanding the structure and function of plant stems is important in Chinese agriculture, which has a long history of crop cultivation.
Cultural Symbolism: In Chinese culture, plant stems can symbolize growth, resilience, and the connection between the roots (representing heritage) and leaves (representing future growth).
Culinary Uses: Some plant stems are used in Chinese cuisine, such as bamboo shoots and lotus stems, which are considered delicacies in many regions.
7. Example Sentence
Chinese: 这种植物的茎可以用来制作药材。
Pinyin: Zhè zhǒng zhíwù de jīng kěyǐ yònglái zhìzuò yàocái.
Translation: The stems of this plant can be used to make medicinal materials.
8. Memory Tips
Character Breakdown: "茎" is composed of "艹" (cǎo, grass radical) on the top and "巠" (jīng) on the bottom.
Visual Association: The top part "艹" clearly indicates that this character is related to plants. The bottom part "巠" provides the pronunciation.
Mnemonic Device: Imagine a plant with a stem (茎) that "goes through" (sounds like "jīng") from the roots in the ground to the leaves above.
Word Association: Connect "茎" with words like "茎叶" (jīng yè, stems and leaves) or "花茎" (huā jīng, flower stalk) to help remember its meaning as the main structural part of a plant.