How to Write 垦 (kěn) — Meaning “to reclaim (land)”

Imagine a farmer using a plow to break up hard, rocky ground (the top part 艮 looks like a cracked field) and turning it into fertile soil (the bottom 土). This visual of reclaiming wasteland captures both the form and meaning of 垦.

Pay attention to the proportions: the top part 艮 should be slightly narrower than the bottom 土, and the horizontal stroke of 土 extends wider than the top. A common mistake is making the top too wide or forgetting the final dot on 土.

垦 uses the phonetic 艮 on top, while 圻 has 斤 (axe) on the right and means 'boundary' or 'ruins'. 圼 is a rare character meaning 'lower ground' and uses 旦 (dawn) below the earth radical. Visually, 垦 is taller with a two-part top–bottom structure.

垦 is mainly used in formal or agricultural contexts, such as 开垦 (to reclaim land) and 垦荒 (to reclaim wasteland). It carries a cultural association with the hard work of turning barren land into farmland, a concept historically important in Chinese agricultural development.

Common words containing 垦 include: 开垦 (kāi kěn) — to reclaim land; to bring under cultivation; 农垦 (nóng kěn) — Land reclamation; farming; 垦荒 (kěn huāng) — to reclaim wasteland.