饘 (zhān) - Thick congee or porridge & thick gruel

饘Tone 1

zhān ｜ 21 strokes ｜ radical:

悦丈

饘 · zhān

Thick congee or porridge;

thick gruel;

refers to a type of thick rice porridge in ancient Chinese texts.

Thick congee or porridgethick gruelrefers to a type of thick rice porridge

Usage highlights

thick congeethick porridgegruel distributionthin and thick congeethick rice gruelcooking thick congee

Synonyms

  • 粥— congee, porridge (general term)
  • 糜— thick congee, mush

Antonyms

  • 飯— cooked rice (solid food)
  • 肉— meat (rich food)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The poor often ate thick congee (饘粥) for sustenance.
  • In ancient times, people cooked thick porridge (饘食) as a staple food.
  • Charity kitchens provided thick gruel (饘饋) to the needy.
  • He survived on thin and thick congee (饘鬻) during the famine.

Collocations

  • thick congee(饘粥)
  • thick porridge(饘食)
  • gruel distribution(饘饋)
  • thin and thick congee(饘鬻)
  • thick rice gruel(饘飯)
  • cooking thick congee(烹饘)

Idioms

  • Eating thick congee and drinking water(饘粥餬口)
  • Surviving on thin and thick congee(饘鬻不繼)
  • Thick congee to fill the belly(饘食果腹)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • 饘 was a common food for the poor and scholars in ancient China, representing simple living.
  • Mentioned in classical texts like Mencius as a symbol of basic sustenance and frugality.
  • Associated with charity and relief efforts during famines, where thick congee was distributed to the hungry.

FAQ