榖 (gǔ) - Grain, cereal crops & specifically refers to millet and other staple food

榖Tone 3

gǔ ｜ 14 strokes ｜ radical:

枫惠

榖 · gǔ

Grain, cereal crops;

specifically refers to millet and other staple food grains;

also used in classical texts to mean 'good', 'nourishment', or 'salary'.

Grain, cereal cropsspecifically refers to millet and other staple foodalso used in classical texts to mean 'good',

Usage highlights

Five grainsGrain cropsOfficial salaryGrain harvestGrain taxGrain storage

Synonyms

  • 谷— grain, valley (simplified/common form)
  • 粮— provisions, food grains
  • 米— rice, husked grain

Antonyms

  • 饥— famine, hunger
  • 荒— crop failure, barren

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The five grains are essential for life (五榖).
  • He received an official salary (俸榖).
  • Ancient people cultivated millet (种榖).
  • This land produces abundant grain (盛产榖物).

Collocations

  • Five grains(五榖)
  • Grain crops(榖物)
  • Official salary(俸榖)
  • Grain harvest(榖收)
  • Grain tax(榖税)
  • Grain storage(榖仓)

Idioms

  • The five grains flourish(五榖丰登)
  • Abundant harvest of all grains(百榖丰稔)
  • Grains do not sprout twice(榖不重芳)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In ancient China, grain represented wealth, sustenance, and official remuneration.
  • The five grains (五榖) were fundamental to agricultural civilization and state stability.
  • Grain was used as currency and tax payment in early Chinese economies.

FAQ