耕 (gēng) — to plow, to till
Definition
耕 (gēng) means 'to plow/till' the soil, the core verb behind compounds like 耕地 and 耕耘. Contrast with 锄 (using a hoe on weeds) and 开垦 (reclaiming wild land for the first time).
verb
to plowto till
Examples
- 。Nóng mín zhèng zài yòng tuō lā jī gēng dì.Farmers are plowing the fields with tractors.
- 。Chūn tiān dào de shí hou jiù yào kāi shǐ gēng zhòng le.When spring comes, it's time to start plowing and planting.
- 。Yé ye nián qīng shí měi tiān dōu zài tián lǐ gēng zuò.When grandpa was young, he worked in the fields plowing every day.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.
Meaning part形符xíngfú
耒耒lěitilling tool
Sound part声符shēngfú
井
井jǐng耕gēng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.
耕 is built from 耒, a tilling tool, and 井, which gives the sound.
Appears in
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