seoi6穗
Jyutpingseoi6
Yaleseuih
Definition
An ear of grain; the seed-bearing head of a cereal plant.
neutralnaturefood
How it's used
This character is almost exclusively used as a bound morpheme in compound nouns related to agriculture or botany. It rarely appears as a standalone noun in daily speech, as speakers prefer more specific terms like 稻穀 or 麥子 when referring to the crops themselves. It is also famously associated with the city of Guangzhou, which is nicknamed 羊城 or 穗城 due to a legend involving five immortals riding goats carrying rice ears.
Examples
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 歲, which sounds similar but refers to age or years. Ensure you distinguish between the radical for grain 禾 and the radical for mountain 山.
Grammar color guide
Noun
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Adjective
Adverb
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Grammar guides
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- Numbers and moneyCounting, talking about money, and asking how much things cost. Includes the two words for two and the everyday words for dollars and cents.
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
