茨 (cí) - thistle & caltrop

茨Tone 2

cí ｜ 9 strokes ｜ radical:

橙丁

茨 · cí

thistle;

caltrop;

to cover with thatch;

used in names of plants and places

thistlecaltropto cover with thatch

Usage highlights

thistlethatched roofwater caltropthorny bushCicheng Towncover with thatch

Synonyms

  • 茅— thatch, reeds
  • 棘— thorn, bramble
  • 蓟— thistle

Antonyms

  • 瓦— tile (as opposed to thatch)
  • 玉— jade (luxury vs. humble)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The field was full of thistles (茨菰).
  • They built a thatched hut (茅茨).
  • Water caltrop is an aquatic plant (茨实).
  • This area is known for its thorny bushes (茨棘).

Collocations

  • thistle(茨菰)
  • thatched roof(茅茨)
  • water caltrop(茨实)
  • thorny bush(茨棘)
  • Cicheng Town(茨城)
  • cover with thatch(茨盖)

Idioms

  • Living in a thatched hut and eating coarse food(茅茨土阶)
  • Thorns and brambles blocking the way(茨棘塞途)
  • Modest dwelling with simple thatch(茨檐茅舍)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Historically associated with humble dwellings and poverty due to connection with thatched roofs.
  • In botanical context, represents hardy, often thorny plants that grow in challenging conditions.
  • Used in place names like Cíchéng (茨城) in various Chinese regions.

FAQ