Learn a Chinese Character - 粥 (zhōu) - Congee

1. Character Basics (汉字基本信息)

Radical: 米 (Rice radical)

Stroke Count: 12

Character Decomposition: 中间的“米”表示米，周围的笔画像水包围着米，形象地表示煮粥的过程。The "米" in the middle represents rice, and the strokes around it are like water surrounding the rice, vividly representing the process of cooking congee.

Stroke Order:

2. Pronunciation (发音)

Pinyin: zhōu (First tone)

3. Meaning (含义)

粥 refers to congee, a type of rice porridge. It is a common and popular food in Chinese cuisine. “粥”指的是粥，一种米粥。它是中国美食中常见且受欢迎的食物。

4. Common Words (常用词汇)

• 米粥 (mǐ zhōu) - Rice congee
• 八宝粥 (bā bǎo zhōu) - Eight-treasure congee
• 皮蛋瘦肉粥 (pí dàn shòu ròu zhōu) - Century egg and lean pork congee

5. Grammar & Usage (语法与用法)

粥 is a noun. It can be used after verbs like "吃 (chī - eat)" or "煮 (zhǔ - cook)". For example, "吃粥 (chī zhōu - eat congee)" or "煮粥 (zhǔ zhōu - cook congee)". “粥”是一个名词。它可以用在像“吃”或“煮”这样的动词后面。例如，“吃粥”或“煮粥”。

6. Cultural Background (文化背景)

Congee has a long - standing cultural significance in China. It is often considered a gentle and nourishing food, suitable for people of all ages, especially the sick and the elderly. In some traditional festivals, specific types of congee are also eaten. 粥在中国有着悠久的文化意义。它通常被认为是一种温和滋补的食物，适合各个年龄段的人，尤其适合病人和老人。在一些传统节日里，也会吃特定种类的粥。

7. Example Sentence (例句)

8. Memory Tips (记忆技巧)

You can remember the character "粥" by imagining the process of cooking congee: rice in the middle surrounded by water. 你可以通过想象煮粥的过程来记住“粥”这个字：中间是米，周围是水。