种zhǒng
Character evolution
种
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Simplified · Today
繁体
Traditional Chinese
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Shuowen
The character 种 combines 禾 (grain) with 中 (middle), the former depicting a mature rice stalk with drooping grains, indicating the agricultural origin of the word. The original meaning refers to seeds selected for planting—those kernels that carry life forward—while the extended senses of breed, race, and variety developed from this fundamental notion of inherited biological type. The choice of 中 within the composition may suggest the central, essential nature of the seed within the grain, or it may serve as a phonetic element. This character captures how agricultural practice shaped Chinese conceptualization of biological continuity and categorical distinction.
Pinyin
zhǒng· HSK 1