How to Write 畦 (qí) — Meaning “Small plot of land or garden bed”

Imagine a field (田) that is divided into small garden beds by two layers of soil (圭) — the top layer and the bottom layer. This visual of a field with two soil layers creating separate plots helps you remember that 畦 means a small plot or garden bed.

The left part 田 should be written with equal proportions, not too wide or narrow. The right part 圭 consists of two 土 (earth) stacked vertically; make sure the central vertical stroke lines up perfectly, and that each 土 is the same size to avoid making the character look lopsided.

While 畦 (qí) means a small garden bed or plot, 畈 (fàn) refers to a broader area of fields or farmland. 畋 (tián) is a verb meaning "to hunt" or "to cultivate," and its right side is 攵 (a hand holding a stick), not 圭. Visually, 畦 has 圭 on the right, 畈 has 反, and 畋 has 攵.

畦 appears mainly in agricultural and gardening contexts, such as 菜畦 (vegetable bed) and 一畦 (one plot of vegetables). It is also used in formal or literary descriptions of farmland, and reflects the traditional Chinese practice of dividing fields into small, irrigated beds for efficient cultivation.

Common words containing 畦 include: 菜畦 (cài qí) — vegetable bed; vegetable plot; 一畦 (yī qí) — a garden bed; a plot of vegetables; 畦田 (qí tián) — Small plots of farmland.