Definitions

surname Su
millet; (metonym) grain

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

About

The character "粟", which signifies millet, derives from a structural composition where the component "米", meaning grain, is placed below a graphical element representing a husk or shell, thereby creating a visual analogy for the harvested crop. This etymological construction underscores the character's original association with husked grains, and its form has remained largely consistent throughout the history of written Chinese, retaining these core components without alteration. While its primary meaning has steadfastly referred to the specific cereal, over time "粟" has also been employed in classical language to denote grains in a broader sense or to metaphorically describe small, granular objects, reflecting an extended semantic range within literary contexts.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我喜欢吃米。

Wǒ xǐhuān chī sù mǐ.

I like to eat millet.

米粥很有营养。

Sù mǐ zhōu hěn yǒu yíngyǎng.

Millet porridge is very nutritious.

农民在田里种

Nóngmín zài tián lǐ zhòng sù.

Farmers plant millet in the field.

的颗粒很小。

Sù de kēlì hěn xiǎo.

Millet grains are very small.

这种米来自北方。

Zhè zhǒng sù mǐ láizì běifāng.

This kind of millet comes from the north.

类作物耐旱性强。

Sù lèi zuòwù nài hàn xìng qiáng.

Millet crops have strong drought resistance.

古代中国以为主食。

Gǔdài Zhōngguó yǐ sù wéi zhǔshí.

Ancient China used millet as a staple food.

粒大小的珍珠很珍贵。

Sù lì dàxiǎo de zhēnzhū hěn zhēnguì.

Pearls the size of millet grains are very precious.