Definitions

surname Su
millet; (metonym) grain

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

About

The character 粟, meaning millet, is structurally composed of 西 positioned above 米 in its contemporary form, with the lower component 米 directly signaling 'grain'. Etymologically, the top element 西 developed from a pictorial representation of millet panicles, though it now graphically matches the character for 'west'. Originally denoting specifically the millet plant, the term 粟 later expanded to refer to grains in a general sense and, by analogy, to small granular objects, as seen in compounds like 粟米 for corn or 罌粟 for poppy.

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.