粱 (liáng) - Fine millet & high-quality grain

粱Tone 2

liáng ｜ 13 strokes ｜ radical:

梁嘹

粱 · liáng

Fine millet;

high-quality grain;

specifically refers to sorghum or foxtail millet;

used metaphorically for fine food or high quality.

Fine millethigh-quality grainspecifically refers to sorghum or foxtail millet

Usage highlights

SorghumFine grainFine foodBeam and raftersSorghum liquorSorghum stalks

Synonyms

  • 粟— millet (general term)
  • 黍— broomcorn millet
  • 谷— grain, cereal

Antonyms

  • 糠— chaff, bran (coarse part of grain)
  • 糟— dregs, waste

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • Sorghum is used to make liquor (高粱酒).
  • They enjoyed fine food and drink (膏粱).
  • The beams of the house were made of fine wood (栋梁).
  • He comes from a wealthy family (膏粱子弟).

Collocations

  • Sorghum(高粱)
  • Fine grain(粱米)
  • Fine food(膏粱)
  • Beam and rafters(梁椽)
  • Sorghum liquor(高粱酒)
  • Sorghum stalks(高粱秆)

Idioms

  • A Golden Millet Dream(黄粱一梦)
  • Fine food and rich flavors(膏粱厚味)
  • Scion of a wealthy family(膏粱子弟)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In ancient China, fine millet (粱) was considered superior grain, often associated with aristocracy and wealth.
  • The character appears in the idiom '黄粱一梦' (Golden Millet Dream), representing fleeting illusions and unrealized ambitions.
  • Traditionally distinguished from common millet (粟), with 粱 being the finer variety used by the upper classes.

FAQ