種

It is a phono-semantic compound, composed of:

禾 (grain, rice plant) – semantic element, indicating crops and agriculture;

重 (jung/jong, heavy) – phonetic element, also linked to the weight of grain.

種 depicts grain (禾) combined with weight (重), symbolizing the seed that carries life and potential. It developed meanings of seed, kind, type, to plant, and to cultivate.

Semantic range:

- seed – the grain or kernel used for planting.

- kind, type, category – by extension, classification of species or varieties.

- to plant, to sow – the action of putting seeds into the ground.

- to raise, to cultivate – tending and growing crops.

Across East Asian languages, it is used not only in agriculture but also metaphorically for categories, races, and kinds.

종자 (種子) – seed

인종 (人種) – race, ethnicity

품종 (品種) – breed, variety

종류 (種類) – type, kind

파종 (播種) – sowing seeds

재종 (栽種) – planting, cultivation