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The character 稻, meaning "rice plant", has maintained a stable core meaning while its structure clarifies its specific semantic range. Its composition combines the radical 禾, denoting a grain-bearing plant, with the phonetic component 舀, which historically also contributed a semantic sense related to dipping or scooping, possibly alluding to the paddy field environment. This traditional form, which remains in use, consistently distinguishes the cultivated plant itself from the general concept of grain or the harvested seed. Over time, its usage narrowed to refer specifically to the paddy rice plant, solidifying its place within the agricultural lexicon without broadening to encompass other major cereals, thereby preserving a precise and enduring link to its original horticultural referent.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
农民在种水稻。
稻谷已经成熟了。
稻田一片绿油油。
稻米是主要粮食。
稻秧长得很快。
秋风吹过稻田。
稻穗沉甸甸地垂下。
科学研究改良稻种。