How to Write 圳 (zhèn) — Meaning “Ditch / Irrigation channel”

Imagine a farmer digging three parallel lines (like 川) into the soil (土) to create a ditch for water. The three vertical strokes of 川 look like three small streams flowing through the land, helping you recall that 圳 means a ditch cut in the ground.

The left component 土 must be written with a short horizontal stroke under the vertical stroke, and its final horizontal stroke should angle slightly upward to leave room for 川. The right side 川 has three vertical strokes: the first two are short and slightly slanted, while the third is longer and straight—make sure they are evenly spaced.

Unlike 圳, which has 土 next to 川, the character 圣 (shèng) has 土 above 又 and means "holy" or "saint." 圤 (pú) is a rare character with 土 around 卜, meaning a clod of earth. Only 圳 contains the three‑stroke 川 on the right, giving it the distinct meaning of a ditch.

The most frequent use of 圳 is in the name 深圳 (Shēnzhèn), one of China's largest and most famous cities, which originally meant "deep ditch" but now refers to the metropolis. In rural contexts, 田圳 (tián zhèn) and 圳沟 (zhèn gōu) describe irrigation or drainage channels in farmland, though these terms are less common in everyday speech.

Common words containing 圳 include: 深圳 (shēn zhèn) — Shenzhen (a major city in Guangdong province); 田圳 (tián zhèn) — irrigation ditch in a field; 圳沟 (zhèn gōu) — Drainage ditch.