Learn a Chinese Character - 菌

1. Character Basics

Radical: 艹/cǎo (grass)

Stroke Count: 11

Stroke Order:

2. Pronunciation

Pinyin: jūn (first tone)

3. Meaning

fungus, mushroom, bacterium, germ

4. Common Words

• 细菌 (xì jūn) - bacterium, germ
• 真菌 (zhēn jūn) - fungus, fungi
• 蘑菇 (mó gu) - mushroom
• 菌种 (jūn zhǒng) - strain, spawn
• 灭菌 (miè jūn) - sterilize, disinfect
• 抗菌素 (kàng jūn sù) - antibiotic

5. Grammar & Usage

• As a noun: refers to various types of fungi, mushrooms, and bacteria

• In compounds: combines with other characters to form scientific and everyday terms related to microorganisms

• In medical context: often used in terms related to bacteria and antibiotics

• In culinary context: used to describe edible mushrooms and fungi

6. Cultural Background

Mushrooms and fungi have a long history in Chinese culture, both as food and medicine. China is one of the world's largest producers and consumers of edible mushrooms, with varieties like shiitake (香菇) and wood ear (木耳) being staples in Chinese cuisine for centuries. Medicinal fungi such as lingzhi (灵芝) have been used in traditional Chinese medicine for their purported health benefits. The study and cultivation of fungi continues to be an important part of Chinese agricultural and pharmaceutical practices.

7. Example Sentence

8. Memory Tips

The character "菌" consists of 艹 (cǎo, grass) on top and 囷 (qūn, a circular granary) below. A helpful mnemonic is to imagine mushrooms or fungi growing in a circular pattern under grass. The grass radical indicates that these organisms are often found in natural, plant-rich environments.