植

zhí

木 + 直

Definitions

zhí (verb) to plant; to grow

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 木 represents the meaning and 直 represents the sound.

Semantic: 木 Phonetic: 直

About

植 is a phono-semantic compound: 木 (tree, wood) signals the meaning, while 直 gives the sound. Originally it denoted a wooden post or stake driven into the ground. Over time, the action of placing something upright in the earth led to the primary sense of planting seeds, trees, or other vegetation. Today it covers planting, cultivating, and firmly establishing something in place.

Etymology Hide

Bronze Warring States (475-221 BC)

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我种植了一棵树。

Wo zhongzhi le yi ke shu.

I planted a tree.

植物需要阳光和水。

Zhiwu xuyao yangguang he shui.

Plants need sunlight and water.

他们在公园里植树。

Tamen zai gongyuan li zhishu.

They are planting trees in the park.

这片土地植被茂盛。

Zhe pian tudi zhibei maosheng.

The vegetation on this land is lush.

医生建议移植器官。

Yisheng jianyi yizhi qiguan.

The doctor suggested organ transplantation.

农业种植技术很重要。

Nongye zhongzhi jishu hen zhongyao.

Agricultural planting technology is very important.

环境保护需要植树造林。

Huanjing baohu xuyao zhishu zaolin.

Environmental protection requires tree planting and afforestation.

科学家研究植物基因工程。

Kexuejia yanjiu zhiwu jiyin gongcheng.

Scientists study plant genetic engineering.

Related Characters

Component: 木

Component: 直

植