梗

gěng

更 + 木

Definitions

gěng branch; stem; stalk; CL:根[gēn]; to block; to hinder; (neologism that evolved from 哏[gén], initially in Taiwan, during the first decade of the 21st century) memorable creative idea (joke, catchphrase, meme, neologism, witty remark etc); prominent feature of a creative work (punchline of a joke, trope in a drama, special ingredient in a dish, riff in a pop song etc)

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 木 represents the meaning and 更 represents the sound.

Semantic: 木 Phonetic: 更

About

梗 is a phono-semantic compound: the semantic component 木 relates to wood and plants, and the phonetic component 更 gives the sound. Originally, it referred to the stems, stalks, or branches of plants. From this sense of rigidity, it expanded to obstruction, a stubborn or stiff personality, and the outline or summary of a story. In modern internet slang, it also signifies a punchline, meme, or running joke.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这花梗很长。

Zhè huā gěng hěn cháng.

This flower stem is very long.

这个梗很好笑。

Zhège gěng hěn hǎoxiào.

This meme is very funny.

他写了故事梗概。

Tā xiěle gùshì gěnggài.

He wrote the story outline.

他心脏梗塞了。

Tā xīnzàng gěngsèle.

He had a heart blockage.

交通梗阻很严重。

Jiāotōng gěngzǔ hěn yánzhòng.

The traffic blockage is very serious.

网络流行梗传播很快。

Wǎngluò liúxíng gěng chuánbò hěn kuài.

Internet popular memes spread very quickly.

这个梗的出处是那部电影。

Zhège gěng de chūchù shì nà bù diànyǐng.

The origin of this meme is that movie.

如果你不懂这个梗，就无法理解笑话的笑点。

Rúguǒ nǐ bù dǒng zhège gěng, jiù wúfǎ lǐjiě xiàohua de xiàodiǎn.

If you don't understand this meme, you won't be able to get the punchline of the joke.

Related Characters

Component: 更

Component: 木

梗