栽

zāi

木 + 𢦏

HSK 3.0Level 7

Definitions

zāi (verb) to plant; to grow

zāi (verb) to fall head first

Etymology phono-semantic

tree

Semantic: 木 Phonetic: 戈

About

The character 栽 (zāi) is a phono-semantic compound: the semantic radical 木 (mù) 'tree, wood' combines with the phonetic component 𢦏 (zāi) enclosed within it. Its original meaning is to plant saplings, sow seeds, or cultivate trees. From the downward action of planting, the sense later extended to tumbling or falling headfirst, and figuratively to framing or blaming someone.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我在花园栽了一棵树。

Wǒ zài huāyuán zāi le yī kē shù.

I planted a tree in the garden.

春天是栽花的好季节。

Chūntiān shì zāi huā de hǎo jìjié.

Spring is a good season for planting flowers.

农民伯伯在田里栽种蔬菜。

Nóngmín bóbo zài tián lǐ zāizhòng shūcài.

The farmer is planting vegetables in the field.

他不小心栽倒在地上。

Tā bù xiǎoxīn zāidǎo zài dìshang.

He accidentally fell on the ground.

他被坏人栽赃了。

Tā bèi huàirén zāizāng le.

He was framed by bad people.

如果你栽下希望的种子，就会收获幸福。

Rúguǒ nǐ zāi xià xīwàng de zhǒngzi, jiù huì shōuhuò xìngfú.

If you plant seeds of hope, you will harvest happiness.

公司重视栽培年轻员工。

Gōngsī zhòngshì zāipéi niánqīng yuángōng.

The company values cultivating young employees.

尽管他努力栽培这些植物，但有些还是没成活。

Jǐnguǎn tā nǔlì zāipéi zhèxiē zhíwù, dàn yǒuxiē háishì méi chénghuó.

Although he worked hard to cultivate these plants, some still didn't survive.

Related Characters

Component: 木

Component: 𢦏

栽