秋

秌/鞦
qiū
火 + 禾
HSK 2.0Level 3

Definitions

qiū (noun) autumn; fall
qiū (noun) harvest time

Etymology

Originally a pictograph of a cricket, since cricket chirps indicate the beginning of autumn. Later the character was reanalyzed as 禾 (grain) + 火 (fire).

About

The character 秋 represents autumn. Its earliest form was a pictograph of a cricket, since the insect's chirping marks the beginning of the season. Later, the character was reanalyzed as a compound of 禾 (grain) and 火 (fire), evoking the autumn tasks of harvesting crops and burning leftover stalks to clear the fields. This agricultural imagery also carries metaphorical weight, suggesting decline, maturity, or a pivotal transition, reflecting the fading of life before winter.

Example Sentences Hide

我喜欢秋天。

Wǒ xǐhuān qiūtiān.

I like autumn.

秋天天气凉爽。

Qiūtiān tiānqì liángshuǎng.

The weather in autumn is cool.

秋季是收获的季节。

Qiūjì shì shōuhuò de jìjié.

Autumn is the season of harvest.

秋雨过后空气清新。

Qiūyǔ guòhòu kōngqì qīngxīn.

After the autumn rain, the air is fresh.

孩子们在公园里荡秋千。

Háizimen zài gōngyuán lǐ dàng qiūqiān.

The children are swinging in the park.

我们计划在秋天去旅行。

Wǒmen jìhuà zài qiūtiān qù lǚxíng.

We plan to travel in autumn.

秋天的枫叶变成了红色。

Qiūtiān de fēngyè biàn chéngle hóngsè.

The maple leaves turn red in autumn.

农民在秋季忙着收割庄稼。

Nóngmín zài qiūjì máng zhe shōugē zhuāngjia.

Farmers are busy harvesting crops in autumn.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

愁 瞅 揪 啾 锹 鳅 湫 愀 楸 鍬 萩 鬏 鞦 鹙

Component: 火

灵 炮 灭 烟 炸 伙 灯 烧 爆 烦 灰 炎 灾 燃

Component: 禾

和 种 利 科 程 称 委 积 香 税 移 秘 私 稳

Example Words

中秋 中秋节 千秋 春夏秋冬 春秋 深秋 秋天 秋季 秋日 秋水 秋叶 秋衣 秋装 秋裤 秋雨 立秋 秋千 一叶知秋 仲秋 初秋 千秋万代 各有千秋 吕氏春秋 喀秋莎