📘 Intermediate — key word for HSK 3-4
Meaning
Classifier for plants (trees, flowers, grass) — those with roots.
🏮 Cultural Story
中文 Chinese
"棵"专门用于有根的植物。"一棵树"、"一棵草"——想象一下植物从地里长出来的样子，根部扎进泥土，那就是"棵"。但如果你去花店买了一束剪下来的玫瑰，那就不能用"棵"了，要用"朵"（因为已经没有根了）。这是HSK考试中常考的区别点！另外有个有趣的词"一棵葱"——虽然葱很小，但因为是从土里种出来的，所以也用"棵"。记住：有根=棵，无根=朵。
English
**棵 (kē)** is exclusively for plants WITH roots. "A tree," "a blade of grass" — imagine the plant growing from soil, roots in the earth = 棵. But cut roses from a flower shop? Use 朵 instead (no roots!). This is a common HSK exam distinction! Even "a scallion" uses 棵 because it grows from soil. Rule: has roots = 棵, no roots = 朵.
💡 Memory Tip
Only for plants that grow from roots. Don't use for cut flowers (use 朵 for those).
Examples
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YouGlish
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Classifier for plants (trees, flowers, grass) — those with roots.