种植

• Pinyin: zhòng zhí
• Hanzi breakdown: 种 = 禾 (grain) + 中, to sow seeds into the ground (zhòng, fourth tone); 植 = 木 (tree/wood) + 直 (straight), to plant upright

Meaning

To plant; to cultivate; to grow. Refers to the deliberate growing of plants, crops, or trees.

A formal or written term more commonly used in agricultural or environmental contexts than 种 alone. 种植粮食 (to grow grain), 种植园 (plantation), 种植面积 (planting area). In everyday speech, 种 alone is often preferred, but 种植 is standard in news, agriculture, and official discourse.

Examples

1. 这个地区的农民主要种植水稻和小麦。 Farmers in this region mainly grow rice and wheat.
2. 为了改善环境，政府决定在荒地上大面积种植树木。 To improve the environment, the government decided to plant trees on a large scale on wasteland.
3. 她在阳台上种植了几盆番茄，每天精心照料。 She has planted several pots of tomatoes on her balcony and tends to them carefully every day.

Usage Guide

Context: agriculture, environment, everyday

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 这片土地非常适合种植蔬菜和水果。(This land is very well suited to growing vegetables and fruit.)
• 当地农民开始种植有机作物，以满足市场需求。(Local farmers have started growing organic crops to meet market demand.)

Don't Say

• 把'种植'用于种花的日常场景（显得太正式） (In casual everyday speech about potting a flower, 种 alone or 养 sounds more natural — 种植 can sound overly formal for very small-scale or domestic gardening)

Origin & History

From 种 (to sow/plant, 禾 grain + 中, fourth tone meaning to sow seeds) and 植 (to plant upright, 木 tree + 直 straight), together emphasising the deliberate cultivation of plants.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal