About
芹 is a phono-semantic compound: the grass radical 艹 at the top indicates a plant, and the phonetic component 斤 below gives the sound. Originally, it referred to Chinese celery, also known as water dropwort, a marsh plant valued for its edible stalks, leaves, and distinct flavor. In ancient China, it was foraged for cooking and presented as a modest offering in educational and ritual contexts, notably at Confucian temples. As Western celery was introduced later, the character's meaning broadened to include those varieties as well. Through all these shifts, 芹 has stayed a simple concrete noun designating these types of celery, without acquiring abstract or metaphorical meanings in ordinary use.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
芹菜很有营养。
我喜欢芹菜的味道。
妈妈用芹菜做汤。
芹菜和胡萝卜一起炒。
超市里的芹菜很新鲜。
因为芹菜健康，所以我常吃。
如果你不喜欢芹菜，可以试试西芹。
在种植芹菜时，需要注意浇水。
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