耕 gēng to plow
to plow; to cultivate; to till
How to remember 耕: 耒 plow + 井 a well = to plow. The farmer drags his old plow past a well in the middle of the field, because the dry spring soil is too hard to plow.
Component breakdown
耕 = 耒 plow + 井 a well
- 耒 plow
- 井 a well
The farmer drags his old plow past a well in the middle of the field, because the dry spring soil is too hard to plow.
How it is used
- To plow/till the land - 耕地 (gēngdì) to plow / arable land, 耕种 (gēngzhòng) to cultivate, 精耕细作 (jīnggēng-xìzuò) intensive careful farming.
- Extends metaphorically to diligent labor: 笔耕 (bǐgēng) to earn a living by writing, 耕耘 (gēngyún) to toil (see next).