黍 (shǔ) - Millet — an ancient grain crop in China, & historically important as a staple food and for

黍Tone 3

shǔ ｜ 12 strokes ｜ radical:

姝树

黍 · shǔ

Millet — an ancient grain crop in China, particularly glutinous millet;

historically important as a staple food and for brewing.

Millet — an ancient grain crop in China,historically important as a staple food and for

Usage highlights

Glutinous milletMillet grainMillet wineMillet fieldMillet porridgePlant millet

Synonyms

  • 稷— millet (another type of millet, often paired with 黍)
  • 小米— millet (modern term)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • Glutinous millet is used to make traditional wine (黍米酒).
  • The ancient Chinese cultivated millet (种植黍).
  • Millet porridge was a common food (黍粥).
  • The grain is small and yellow (黍粒小而黄).

Collocations

  • Glutinous millet(黍米)
  • Millet grain(黍子)
  • Millet wine(黍酒)
  • Millet field(黍田)
  • Millet porridge(黍粥)
  • Plant millet(种黍)

Idioms

  • Not distinguishing wheat from millet(不辨菽麦)
  • Millet and broomcorn(黍稷)
  • Millet of the Shang dynasty(商黍)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • One of the 'Five Grains' (五谷) in ancient Chinese agriculture, alongside rice, wheat, beans, and hemp.
  • Used in ancestral sacrifices and rituals due to its importance as a staple food.
  • Mentioned in classical texts like the Book of Songs as a symbol of agricultural life.

FAQ