Chinese Character: 种 (zhǒng/zhòng - Kind/Plant)
1. Character Basics (基本信息)
Radical: 禾 (The "grain" radical)
Stroke Count: 9
Character Decomposition: 禾 + 中 (grain + middle)
Stroke Order:
2. Pronunciation (发音)
Pinyin: zhǒng/zhòng (First tone for "kind", Fourth tone for "plant")
3. Meaning (含义)
As "zhǒng", it means kind, sort, species. As "zhòng", it means to plant, sow. 当读"zhǒng"时，意为种类、品种；读"zhòng"时，意为种植、播种。
4. Common Words (常用词汇)
- 种类 (zhǒng lèi) - kind, variety
- 种子 (zhǒng zi) - seed
- 种植 (zhòng zhí) - plant, grow
5. Grammar & Usage (语法与用法)
As a noun (zhǒng), it can be used with measure words like "一种" (a kind of). As a verb (zhòng), it can take a plant - related object. 作为名词（zhǒng），常与量词“一种”等搭配；作为动词（zhòng），后面可接与植物相关的宾语。
6. Cultural Background (文化背景)
Agriculture has a long - standing history in China, and the concept of "planting" and "species" is deeply ingrained in Chinese culture. 农业在中国有着悠久的历史，“种植”和“种类”的概念在中国文化中根深蒂固。
7. Example Sentence (例句)
这种水果很好吃。(Zhè zhǒng shuǐguǒ hěn hǎo chī.) This kind of fruit is very delicious.
他每年都会种很多树。(Tā měinián dōu huì zhòng hěn duō shù.) He plants a lot of trees every year.
8. Memory Tips (记忆技巧)
Think of "禾" (grain) needing to be "planted" in the "middle" of the field. So when it's about "planting", it's "zhòng", and the result of planting leads to different "kinds" or "species", so it's "zhǒng". 可以想象“禾”（谷物）需要种在田地“中间”。所以表示“种植”时读“zhòng”，种植的结果产生了不同的“种类”，所以读“zhǒng”。