Definitions

liáng (noun) grain; food; provisions

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound. Simplified form of .

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character 粮 refers to grain, provisions, or food. Its traditional form, 糧, is composed of the semantic component 米 (rice/grain) and the phonetic component 量 (to measure). The simplified form 粮 replaces the right side with 良, which provides the phonetic value "liang" and also carries the meaning of "good". Historically, the character primarily denoted agricultural produce for consumption, often specifically military rations or staple crops collected as taxes. This structural evolution from 糧 to 粮 created a more efficient writing form while retaining the semantic category of grain and the phonetic function of the right-hand element.

Etymology Hide

Bronze etymology image
Bronze Spring and Autumn (771-476 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 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 Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

食对生活很重要。

Liángshí duì shēnghuó hěn zhòngyào.

Food is very important for life.

我们储存了很多食。

Wǒmen chǔcúnle hěn duō liángshí.

We have stored a lot of food/grain.

农民们正在收割食。

Nóngmínmen zhèngzài shōugē liángshí.

The farmers are harvesting the grain.

军队携带了足够的军

Jūnduì xiédàile zúgòu de jūnliáng.

The army carried sufficient military provisions.

饥荒导致食价格飞涨。

Jīhuāng dǎozhì liángshí jiàgé fēizhǎng.

The famine caused grain prices to soar.

确保国家食安全是首要任务。

Quèbǎo guójiā liángshí ānquán shì shǒuyào rènwù.

Ensuring national food security is a top priority.

这种新型高产的食作物正在推广。

Zhè zhǒng xīnxíng gāochǎn de liángshí zuòwù zhèngzài tuīguǎng.

This new type of high-yield grain crop is being promoted.

古代的道是维系帝国命脉的关键。

Gǔdài de liáng dào shì wéixì dìguó mìngmài de guānjiàn.

In ancient times, grain transport routes were key to maintaining the empire's lifeline.