Chinese Character: 粱
1. Character Basics
Radical: 米 (mǐ, rice radical)
Stroke Count: 13
Stroke Order:
2. Pronunciation
Pinyin: liáng (Second tone)
3. Meaning
Fine grain; millet; sorghum; a type of fine grain in ancient China; good grain
4. Common Words
- 高粱 (gāoliáng) - sorghum; kaoliang
- 黄粱 (huángliáng) - millet; yellow millet
- 稻粱 (dàoliáng) - rice and millet; grains
- 粱米 (liángmǐ) - millet rice; fine grain rice
- 粱肉 (liángròu) - fine food and meat; rich diet
- 粱菽 (liángshū) - grains and beans; staple foods
- 膏粱 (gāoliáng) - fat and fine grain; rich food; luxurious living
- 黄粱一梦 (huángliáng yī mèng) - a millet dream; pipe dream; short-lived illusion of wealth or success
5. Grammar & Usage
"粱" is a noun that primarily refers to fine grains, especially millet or sorghum in ancient China.
Grammar Patterns:
- 粱 + 名词: 粱米 (millet rice), 粱肉 (fine food and meat)
- 形容词 + 粱: 黄粱 (yellow millet), 膏粱 (fat and fine grain)
- 固定搭配: 黄粱一梦 (pipe dream), 稻粱谋 (seeking food and shelter)
- 量词 + 粱: 一斗粱 (a dou of millet), 几升粱 (several sheng of millet)
6. Cultural Background
The character "粱" has significant cultural importance in Chinese history, particularly in relation to agriculture and food culture.
In ancient China, "粱" referred to a type of fine, high-quality millet that was considered a luxury food. It was often associated with nobility and wealth.
The famous idiom "黄粱一梦" (huángliáng yī mèng) comes from a Tang Dynasty story about a man who had a vivid dream of a successful life, only to wake up and find that the millet being cooked was still not done. This idiom is used to describe a short-lived dream or illusion of success.
Another related expression is "稻粱谋" (dàoliáng móu), which means to seek food and shelter, referring to the basic needs of survival.
Today, "粱" is most commonly used in the word "高粱" (gāoliáng, sorghum), which is an important crop in northern China.
7. Example Sentence
中文: 他以为自己会成为富翁，但这不过是黄粱一梦。
Pinyin: Tā yǐwéi zìjǐ huì chéngwéi fùwēng, dàn zhè bùguò shì huángliáng yī mèng.
English: He thought he would become a millionaire, but it was just a pipe dream.
8. Memory Tips
The character "粱" (liáng) consists of the radical "米" (rice radical) and the character "梁" (liáng, bridge).
To remember this character, think of it as "a bridge for rice" or "a structure related to grains," which connects to its meaning of fine grain.
You can also associate it with the famous idiom "黄粱一梦" (pipe dream) to help remember both the character and its cultural significance.
Practice writing the character following the stroke order to help with memorization.
Compare it with the similar character "粮" (liáng, grain) to distinguish between them. Both have the "米" radical but different components on the right.