Definitions

liáng sorghum

Etymology phono-semantic

millet

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character "粱" is structurally composed of the semantic component "米", which denotes "rice" or "grain", combined with the phonetic component "梁" that historically provided its pronunciation. Etymologically, it originally referred to a specific type of fine millet, a meaning that has consistently been associated with high-quality grains. Over time, while its core semantic field remains anchored to edible cereals, its independent usage has diminished, and it now primarily functions as a bound morpheme in compound words such as "高粱" for sorghum, indicating a specialization within the lexicon rather than a broad categorical term.

Etymology Hide

Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Early Spring and Autumn (~700 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Early Spring and Autumn (~700 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Early Spring and Autumn (~700 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 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 Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

是一种粮食。

Gāoliáng shì yī zhǒng liángshí.

Sorghum is a type of grain.

农民种植高

Nóngmín zhòngzhí gāoliáng.

Farmers grow sorghum.

可以酿酒。

Gāoliáng kěyǐ niàng jiǔ.

Sorghum can be used to make wine.

我们吃高米饭。

Wǒmen chī gāoliáng mǐ fàn.

We eat sorghum rice.

这种高产量很高。

Zhè zhǒng gāoliáng chǎnliàng hěn gāo.

This type of sorghum has a high yield.

杆可以用来造纸。

Gāoliáng gǎn kěyǐ yòng lái zào zhǐ.

Sorghum stalks can be used to make paper.

在干旱地区,高是重要作物。

Zài gānhàn dìqū, gāoliáng shì zhòngyào zuòwù.

In arid regions, sorghum is an important crop.

研究人员培育了新型高品种。

Yánjiū rényuán péiyù le xīnxíng gāoliáng pǐnzhǒng.

Researchers have cultivated new varieties of sorghum.