芥

芥 U+82A5, 芥 CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-82A5 ← 芤 [U+82A4] CJK Unified Ideographs 芦 → [U+82A6]

Translingual

Han character

芥 (Kangxi radical 140, 艸+4, 8 strokes in traditional Chinese and Korean, 7 strokes in mainland China and Japanese, cangjie input 廿人中中 (TOLL) or 難廿人中中 (XTOLL), four-corner 4422₈, composition ⿱艹介)

Derived characters

• 𠶋, 𤊍, 𰥬

References

• Kangxi Dictionary: page 1019, character 31
• Dai Kanwa Jiten: character 30715
• Dae Jaweon: page 1477, character 14
• Hanyu Da Zidian (first edition): volume 5, page 3182, character 6
• Unihan data for U+82A5

Chinese

trad.		芥
simp. #		芥

Glyph origin

Historical forms of the character 芥
Warring States	Shuowen Jiezi (compiled in Han)
Qin slip script	Small seal script

Characters in the same phonetic series (介) (Zhengzhang, 2003) 

	Old Chinese
妎	*ɡaːds, *ɡeːds
芥	*kreːds
尬	*kreːds
界	*kreːds
介	*kreːds
疥	*kreːds
玠	*kreːds
砎	*kreːds, *kreːd, *ɡraːd
魪	*kreːds
价	*kreːds
衸	*kreːds, *ɡreːds
齘	*ɡreːds
骱	*ɡaːd, *kreːd
扴	*kreːd
圿	*kreːd
忦	*kreːd

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *kreːds) : semantic 艸 (“grass, plant”) + phonetic 介 (OC *kreːds) – a type of plant.

Etymology

The meaning "mustard green" is attested earliest in the Book of Rites; "small grass" in Zuo zhuan (Ai 1).

Schuessler (2007) compares it to Middle Korean 갓 (kas), Proto-Southwestern Tai *ka:tᴰ (> Thai กาด (gàat), Lao ກາດ (kāt), Shan ၵၢတ်ႇ (kàat)), Proto-Vietic *kaːs (> Vietnamese cải, Muong cái, & Thavung kajh¹). However, all those foreign items might have been loaned from Late Old Chinese or Eastern Han Chinese (as proposed by Pittayaporn for *ka:tᴰ),

Pronunciation

• Mandarin

  (Standard)

  (Pinyin): jiè, gài (jie⁴, gai⁴)

  (Zhuyin): ㄐㄧㄝˋ, ㄍㄞˋ

  (Chengdu, Sichuanese Pinyin): jiai⁴

• Cantonese

  (Guangzhou–Hong Kong, Jyutping): gaai³

  (Taishan, Wiktionary): gai¹

• Gan (Wiktionary): gai⁴
• Hakka

  (Sixian, PFS): kie

  (Meixian, Guangdong): giai⁴

• Jin (Wiktionary): jie³
• Northern Min (KCR): guo̿i
• Eastern Min (BUC): gái
• Southern Min

  (Hokkien, POJ): kòa / kè / kài

  (Teochew, Peng'im): gai³ / kah⁴

• Wu (Shanghai, Wugniu): ¹ka
• Xiang (Changsha, Wiktionary): gai⁴

---

• Mandarin
  • (Standard Chinese)⁺
    • Hanyu Pinyin: jiè
    • Zhuyin: ㄐㄧㄝˋ
    • Tongyong Pinyin: jiè
    • Wade–Giles: chieh⁴
    • Yale: jyè
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: jieh
    • Palladius: цзе (cze)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /t͡ɕi̯ɛ⁵¹/
      
  • (Standard Chinese)⁺
    • Hanyu Pinyin: gài
    • Zhuyin: ㄍㄞˋ
    • Tongyong Pinyin: gài
    • Wade–Giles: kai⁴
    • Yale: gài
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: gay
    • Palladius: гай (gaj)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /kaɪ̯⁵¹/
  • (Chengdu)
    • Sichuanese Pinyin: jiai⁴
    • Scuanxua Ladinxua Xin Wenz: giai
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /t͡ɕiɛi²¹³/
• Cantonese
  • (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)
    • Jyutping: gaai³
    • Yale: gaai
    • Cantonese Pinyin: gaai³
    • Guangdong Romanization: gai³
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /kaːi̯³³/
  • (Taishanese, Taicheng)
    • Wiktionary: gai¹
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /kai³³/
• Gan
  • (Nanchang)
    • Wiktionary: gai⁴
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /kai³⁵/
• Hakka
  • (Sixian, incl. Miaoli and Neipu)
    • Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: kie
    • Hakka Romanization System: gie
    • Hagfa Pinyim: gie⁴
    • Sinological IPA: /ki̯e⁵⁵/
  • (Meixian)
    • Guangdong: giai⁴
    • Sinological IPA: /kiaɪ⁵³/
• Jin
  • (Taiyuan)⁺
    • Wiktionary: jie³
    • Sinological IPA (old-style): /t͡ɕie⁴⁵/
• Northern Min
  • (Jian'ou)
    • Kienning Colloquial Romanized: guo̿i
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /kuɛ³³/
• Eastern Min
  • (Fuzhou)
    • Bàng-uâ-cê: gái
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /kɑi²¹³/
• Southern Min
  • (Hokkien)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: kòa / kè / kài
    • Tâi-lô: kuà / kè / kài
    • Phofsit Daibuun: koax, kex, kaix
    • IPA (Xiamen): /kua²¹/, /ke²¹/, /kai²¹/
    • IPA (Quanzhou): /kua⁴¹/, /ke⁴¹/, /kai⁴¹/
    • IPA (Zhangzhou): /kua²¹/, /ke²¹/, /kai²¹/
    • IPA (Taipei): /kua¹¹/, /ke¹¹/, /kai¹¹/
    • IPA (Kaohsiung): /kua²¹/, /ke²¹/, /kai²¹/

Note:

• kòa, kè - vernacular;
• kài - literary.

• (Teochew)
  • Peng'im: gai³ / kah⁴
  • Pe̍h-ōe-jī-like: kài / khah
  • Sinological IPA ^(key): /kai²¹³/, /kʰaʔ²/

Note:

• gai3 - literary;
• kah4 - vernacular (limited).

• Wu
  • (Northern: Shanghai)
    • Wugniu: ¹ka
    • MiniDict: ka^平
    • Wiktionary Romanisation (Shanghai): ¹ka
    • Sinological IPA (Shanghai): /ka⁵³/
• Xiang
  • (Changsha)
    • Wiktionary: gai⁴
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /kai̯⁴⁵/

---

• Middle Chinese: keajH

Rime
Character	芥
Reading #	1/1
Initial (聲)	見 (28)
Final (韻)	皆 (33)
Tone (調)	Departing (H)
Openness (開合)	Open
Division (等)	II
Fanqie	古拜切
Baxter	keajH
Reconstructions
Zhengzhang Shangfang	/kˠɛiH/
Pan Wuyun	/kᵚæiH/
Shao Rongfen	/kɐiH/
Edwin Pulleyblank	/kəɨjH/
Li Rong	/kɛiH/
Wang Li	/kɐiH/
Bernard Karlgren	/kăiH/
Expected Mandarin Reflex	jiè
Expected Cantonese Reflex	gaai3

• Old Chinese

  (Baxter–Sagart): /*kˤr[e][t]-s/

  (Zhengzhang): /*kreːds/

Baxter–Sagart system 1.1 (2014)
Character	芥
Reading #	1/1
Modern Beijing (Pinyin)	jiè
Middle Chinese	‹ kɛjH ›
Old Chinese	/*kˁr[e][t]-s/
English	mustard plant
Notes for Old Chinese notations in the Baxter–Sagart system: * Parentheses "()" indicate uncertain presence; * Square brackets "[]" indicate uncertain identity, e.g. *[t] as coda may in fact be *-t or *-p; * Angle brackets "<>" indicate infix; * Hyphen "-" indicates morpheme boundary; * Period "." indicates syllable boundary.

Zhengzhang system (2003)
Character	芥
Reading #	1/1
No.	6522
Phonetic component	介
Rime group	祭
Rime subdivision	2
Corresponding MC rime	誡
Old Chinese	/*kreːds/

Definitions

芥

1. mustard greens (Brassica juncea)

   • 膾：春用蔥，秋用芥。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     脍：春用葱，秋用芥。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: The Book of Rites, c. 4^th – 2^nd century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

     Kuài: chūn yòng cōng, qiū yòng jiè. [Pinyin]

     Mince was made in spring, with onions; in autumn, with the mustard plant.

2. (literary) small grass

   • 臣聞：「國之興也，視民如傷，是其福也。其亡也，以民為土芥，是其禍也。」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     臣闻：「国之兴也，视民如伤，是其福也。其亡也，以民为土芥，是其祸也。」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: Commentary of Zuo, c. 4^th century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

     Chén wén: “Guó zhī xìng yě, shì mín rú shāng, shì qí fú yě. Qí wáng yě, yǐ mín wèi tǔjiè, shì qí huò yě.” [Pinyin]

     I have heard that States flourish when they regard their people as if apprehensive of their receiving hurt:;`——that brings prosperity. States again perish when they treat their people as earth or grass; —that brings calamity.

   • 君之視臣如土芥，則臣視君如寇讎 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     君之视臣如土芥，则臣视君如寇雠 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: Mencius, c. 4^th century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

     jūn zhī shì chén rú tǔjiè, zé chén shì jūn rú kòuchóu [Pinyin]

     When the prince regards his ministers as earth or as grass, they regard him as a robber and an enemy.

   • 覆杯水於坳堂之上，則芥為之舟。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     覆杯水于坳堂之上，则芥为之舟。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: Zhuangzi, circa 3^rd – 2^nd centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

     Fù bēi shuǐ yú àotáng zhī shàng, zé jiè wéi zhī zhōu. [Pinyin]

     Tip water from a cup into a cavity, and a leaf of grass will float on it like were a boat.

3. (literary, figurative) triviality

Compounds

• 一芥
• 俛拾地芥／俯拾地芥
• 南芥
• 土芥
• 地芥
• 埃芥
• 塵芥／尘芥 (chénjiè)
• 塵芥蟲／尘芥虫
• 壤芥
• 大頭芥／大头芥
• 如拾地芥
• 山芥
• 引鍼拾芥／引针拾芥
• 拾地芥
• 拾芥
• 掌中芥
• 易如拾芥
• 橫芥／横芥
• 殺人如芥／杀人如芥
• 毛芥
• 毫芥
• 浮芥
• 石芥
• 視如土芥／视如土芥
• 視如草芥／视如草芥
• 視若草芥／视若草芥
• 纖芥／纤芥
• 纖芥不遺／纤芥不遗
• 纖芥無爽／纤芥无爽
• 腐芥
• 芥子 (jièzǐ)
• 芥子毒氣／芥子毒气 (jièzǐ dúqì)
• 芥子油
• 芥子須彌／芥子须弥
• 芥川賞／芥川赏
• 芥拾
• 芥拾青紫
• 芥末 (“mustard”)
• 芥視／芥视
• 芥羽
• 芥舟
• 芥菜
• 芥菜頭／芥菜头
• 芥蒂 (jièdì)
• 芥蔕／芥蒂
• 芥藍／芥蓝
• 芥藍菜／芥蓝菜
• 芥蘭／芥兰
• 芥蠆／芥虿
• 芥辣
• 芥黃／芥黄
• 荊芥／荆芥 (jīngjiè)
• 草芥 (cǎojiè)
• 草芥人命
• 蒂芥
• 蔕芥／蒂芥
• 薹芥
• 蜀芥
• 蠆芥／虿芥
• 負芥／负芥
• 遺芥／遗芥
• 針芥／针芥
• 針芥之合／针芥之合
• 針芥之契／针芥之契
• 針芥之投／针芥之投
• 針芥相投／针芥相投
• 鍼芥相投／针芥相投
• 須彌芥子／须弥芥子

 

Descendants

• → Proto-Tai: *kaːtᴰ (“mustard greens”)
  • Proto-Southwestern Tai: *kaːtᴰ (“mustard greens”)
    • Lao: ກາດ (kāt)
    • Shan: ၵၢတ်ႇ (kàat)
    • Thai: กาด (gàat)

Japanese

Kanji

芥

(Jinmeiyō kanji)

1. mustard
2. rubbish, trash, dust

Readings

• Go-on: け (ke)
• Kan-on: かい (kai)
• Kun: あくた (akuta, 芥)、からし (karashi, 芥)、ごみ (gomi, 芥)

Etymology 1

Kanji in this term
芥
からし Jinmeiyō
kun'yomi

For pronunciation and definitions of 芥 – see the following entry.

【芥子からし】 [noun] Synonym of 芥子菜 (karashina): the Indian mustard, Brassica juncea [from early 10th c.] [noun] a spice made from the kneaded seeds of the Indian mustard [from mid-8th c.] Alternative spelling 辛子

(This term, 芥, is an alternative spelling of the above term.)

Etymology 2

Kanji in this term
芥
あくた Jinmeiyō
kun'yomi

For pronunciation and definitions of 芥 – see the following entry.

【あくた】 [noun] [from 759] something rotten or broken: garbage, waste, dross [noun] (by extension) something worthless

(This term, 芥, is an alternative spelling of the above term.)

Etymology 3

Kanji in this term
芥
ごみ Jinmeiyō
kun'yomi

For pronunciation and definitions of 芥 – see the following entry.

【ゴミ】 [noun] trash, rubbish, garbage Alternative spellings 塵, ごみ

(This term, 芥, is an alternative spelling of the above term.)

Korean

Hanja

芥 • (gae) (hangeul 개, revised gae, McCune–Reischauer kae, Yale kay)

1. This term needs a translation to English. Please help out and add a translation, then remove the text {{rfdef}}.

Vietnamese

Han character

芥: Hán Nôm readings: giới

1. This term needs a translation to English. Please help out and add a translation, then remove the text {{rfdef}}.