How to Write 菽 (shū) — Meaning “beans; legumes”

Picture a bean plant with a wise uncle (叔) watering it — the plant radical 艹 is on top, and the uncle gives the same sound "shū". Remember: "Uncle's beans" — 叔 (uncle) + 艹 (plants) = 菽 (beans).

The top radical 艹 must be narrow, not too wide, so the character stays balanced. In the bottom part 叔, the left component 上 (stop) is slightly taller than the right part 又, and the last stroke (a hook) on the right should curve nicely. Avoid making the top grass head bigger than the rest.

兹 (zī) has a different top (䒑, not grass) and means "this" or "now" — it has nothing to do with plants. 苧 (zhù) uses the radical 艹 with 宁 below and means "ramie" (a fiber plant). 菽 specifically means beans and legumes, so it always refers to edible seeds.

菽 is an ancient or literary term for beans; today, most people use the simpler word 豆 (dòu) in daily conversation. You might see 菽 in agricultural books, classical poetry, or set phrases like 菽粟 (shū sù, food and grains), giving a formal or historical flavor.

Common words containing 菽 include: 豆菽 (dòu shū) — beans and peas; legumes; 菽粟 (shū sù) — beans and grain; food; 采菽 (cǎi shū) — to gather beans or legumes.