zhī
noun

Measure Word

Meanings

  1. 1 gardenia
  2. 2 cape jasmine

Examples

HSK 7-9
Yuànzi lǐ de zhīzihuā piāoxiāng.
The gardenias in the yard are giving off a sweet scent.
HSK 7-9
Tā xǐhuan zhīzi jiébái de huā.
She likes the white blossoms of the gardenia.

Tips

culture
Almost always 栀子 or 栀子花. The fragrant white summer flower is a classic symbol of early-summer in Chinese songs and poems; its fruit also yields a yellow dye.

Components

radical
tree; wood
Left-side tree radical . The gardenia is a woody shrub, so the plant gets the wood radical rather than the grass one.
phonetic
zhī
ancient wine vessel
Right side supplies the sound zhī. One traditional explanation links the round gardenia fruit to the shape of this cup-like vessel.

Stroke Order

zhī