稷 (jì): broomcorn millet

Meanings

古代，稷是主要的粮食作物。

Gǔdài, jì shì zhǔyào de liángshi zuòwù.

In ancient times millet was a staple grain.

社稷一词后来指国家。

Shèjì yī cí hòulái zhǐ guójiā.

The word shèjì (gods of soil and grain) came to mean the state itself.

culture

稷 was a key ancient grain and its harvest god. Paired with the soil god in 社稷, it became a classical word for the nation.

radical

禾 hé

grain; standing crop

The grain radical 禾 on the left fixes the core meaning of 稷 as a cereal crop, grouping it with 稻 and 穗.

phonetic

畟 cè

to plow sharply

The right side carries the sound (drifted to the modern reading jì) and faintly evokes field work, fitting an agricultural crop.

稷 jì