How to Write 苋 (xiàn) — Meaning “Amaranth”

Picture a green plant (艹) that is so vibrant it demands to be "seen" (见) — that is amaranth. Alternatively, think of "amaranth" as a plant you can "see" in gardens, linking 见 to the visual appearance.

Write the radical 艹 first as two horizontal strokes (一 一) then the vertical stroke (丨) — three strokes. Then write 见: vertical stroke (丨), horizontal fold (𠃌), horizontal stroke (一), and finally the hook/vertical (乚). A common mistake is making the 见 part too wide; keep it compact and centered below the grass radical.

苋 (xiàn, amaranth) has 艹 on top and 见 below, while 兹 (zī, this/now) has two 玄 (xuán) components or a different top (艹 + 丝). 艻 (lè, a type of grass) has 艹 on top and 力 (lì, power) below. Visually, 苋's bottom part is 见 (with a wide top and hook), whereas 艻 uses 力 (a simple angled line). Pronunciation and meaning also differ completely.

苋 is almost exclusively used in the word 苋菜 (xiàn cài), meaning amaranth greens, a common leafy vegetable in Chinese cuisine. It appears in names like 红苋菜 (red amaranth) and 绿苋菜 (green amaranth), often stir-fried or in soups. Culturally, amaranth is valued for its nutritional benefits and vibrant color, especially the red variety that gives dishes a natural red tint.

Common words containing 苋 include: 苋菜 (xiàn cài) — Amaranth (vegetable); 红苋菜 (hóng xiàn cài) — Red amaranth; 绿苋菜 (lǜ xiàn cài) — green amaranth.