粥

yù, zhōu

弓 + 米

HSK 2.0Level 6

HSK 3.0Level 6

Definitions

zhōu (noun) congee; gruel; porridge

Etymology

Depicts porridge being made from rice (米) around hot rising steam. Derived from 鬻.

About

The character 粥 features the semantic component 米 (rice) at its center, indicating the main ingredient, with two 弓 (bow) components flanking it on either side. This structure visually represents the cooking of grains into a soft, semi-liquid consistency. The term refers to a thick, soupy dish made by boiling rice or other grains in ample water until they break down and thicken the liquid. The combination emphasizes the transformation of solid rice into a viscous fluid, and it serves as the standard word for this staple food across different regional cuisines and historical periods.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我喜欢喝粥。

Wǒ xǐhuān hē zhōu.

I like to drink porridge.

妈妈煮了一锅热粥。

Māmā zhǔ le yī guō rè zhōu.

Mom cooked a pot of hot porridge.

早餐我常常吃粥。

Zǎocān wǒ chángcháng chī zhōu.

I often eat porridge for breakfast.

这碗粥很有营养。

Zhè wǎn zhōu hěn yǒu yíngyǎng.

This bowl of porridge is very nutritious.

那家粥铺的小米粥很好喝。

Nà jiā zhōupù de xiǎomǐ zhōu hěn hǎo hē.

The millet porridge from that porridge shop is very tasty.

病人适合吃一些清淡的粥。

Bìngrén shìhé chī yīxiē qīngdàn de zhōu.

Patients are suitable to eat some light porridge.

这家餐厅的粥品样式非常多。

Zhè jiā cāntīng de zhōupǐn yàngshì fēicháng duō.

This restaurant has a very wide variety of porridge dishes.

粥比米饭更容易消化。

Zhōu bǐ mǐfàn gèng róngyì xiāohuà.

Porridge is easier to digest than rice.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 弓

Component: 米

粥