垦 (kěn) — (bound form) to cultivate, to reclaim (wasteland)

Definition

Bound form used almost exclusively in compounds about reclaiming wasteland for farming (e.g. 开垦, 垦荒, 垦区). On its own it just means 'to cultivate / reclaim (land)'.

bound form
to cultivateto reclaim (wasteland)
Easily confused

Examples

  • 。
    Nóng mín men zhèng zài kāi kěn huāng dì.
    The farmers are reclaiming the wasteland.
  • 。
    Zhè piàn tǔ dì jīng guò kěn huāng hòu biàn chéng le nóng tián.
    This land became farmland after being reclaimed.
  • 垦。
    Zhèng fǔ shè lì le xīn de kěn qū.
    The government established a new reclamation area.

Origin

Sound + meaning
六书liùshū
形声xíngshēng

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 墾; 垦 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 墾 pairs 貇, which gives the sound, with 土, earth/soil; 垦 is a later simplified form.

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