Chinese word

种子

Pronunciation

Pinyinzhǒng zi

Meaning

  • nounseed

Example

这些种子能发芽吗？zhè xiē zhǒng zi néng fā yá ma

Can these seeds sprout?

Illustration for 种子 (seed)

More examples

把种子埋在土里，它会发芽。bǎ zhǒng zi mái zài tǔ lǐ tā huì fā yá

Bury the seeds in the soil, and they will sprout.

Core concept

A small protected plant package that carries an embryo and its first food supply.

Common phrases

  • 一粒种子yí lì zhǒng zi

    a seed

  • 种子发芽zhǒng zi fā yá

    seeds sprout

  • 收集种子shōu jí zhǒng zi

    collect seeds

Similar words

芽yá: A young part of a plant that grows from a seed or stem and develops into leaves or a stem.

Definition in Chinese

含有植物胚胎并被种皮包裹的结构，能在适宜环境中发芽并为幼苗提供初期营养。hán yǒu zhí wù pēi tāi bìng bèi zhǒng pí bāo guǒ de jié gòu néng zài shì yí huán jìng zhōng fā yá bìng wèi yòu miáo tí gōng chū qī yíng yǎng

Word origin

种 (zhǒng, "seed") + 子 (zi, "child or noun suffix") form 种子 (zhǒngzi, "seed"), naming the small unit from which a new plant can begin.

Usage tips

  • For natural everyday descriptions, this noun commonly appears with a result or stage, such as 发芽 (fāyá, "to sprout") or 长成 (zhǎngchéng, "to grow into"), which makes the plant process clear.

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