gēngdì: 耕地 - Arable Land, Cultivated Land, Farmland

• Keywords: gengdi, gēngdì, 耕地, Chinese for farmland, cultivated land in China, arable land Chinese, what is gengdi, 耕地 meaning, food security China, China agriculture, 1.8 billion mu red line.
• Summary: Learn about 耕地 (gēngdì), the Chinese term for arable or cultivated land. This entry explores its literal meaning, its critical importance in Chinese culture and history, and its central role in modern-day policy, particularly concerning national food security and the famous “red line” (红线). Discover how this term reflects China's deep-rooted agrarian past and its strategic planning for the future.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): gēngdì
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 5/6 (The characters are common, but the term itself is more specific)
• Concise Definition: Land that is plowed and used for growing crops; arable land.
• In a Nutshell: 耕地 (gēngdì) is more than just “land”; it specifically refers to land that is actively farmed or suitable for farming. It's a formal and significant term in China, evoking thousands of years of agricultural history and representing the very foundation of the nation's survival and stability. In modern China, it's a key term in discussions about economics, policy, and national security.

• 耕 (gēng): To plow, to till the soil. This character is composed of the radical `耒 (lěi)`, which represents an ancient plow, and `井 (jǐng)`, which originally depicted a well or a grid-like pattern of fields and now acts as a phonetic component. Together, they create a vivid image of working the land.
• 地 (dì): Earth, ground, land. This character is composed of the earth radical `土 (tǔ)` on the left and `也 (yě)` on the right, which acts primarily as a phonetic component. It's the fundamental character for anything related to the ground.

When combined, 耕地 (gēngdì) literally means “plowed land” or “tilled earth,” perfectly capturing its meaning as land prepared and used for agriculture.

For millennia, China has been a fundamentally agrarian civilization. The amount and quality of 耕地 (gēngdì) directly determined the prosperity or famine of dynasties. It was the source of wealth, the basis of the imperial tax system, and the cause of countless peasant rebellions. This history has ingrained a deep-seated cultural understanding that 耕地 (gēngdì) is a precious, finite, and life-sustaining resource. In a Western context, “farmland” is often viewed primarily as a private asset or a commercial commodity, subject to market forces. While this is also true in China, 耕地 (gēngdì) carries a much heavier weight of national strategic importance. The government views the protection of arable land as a matter of state security. This is most clearly seen in the “arable land red line” (耕地红线, gēngdì hóngxiàn). This is a strict national policy mandating that China must maintain a minimum of 1.8 billion mu (120 million hectares or 300 million acres) of arable land to ensure food self-sufficiency for its 1.4 billion people. This “red line” is a non-negotiable bottom line that heavily influences urban planning, industrial development, and environmental policies, highlighting how 耕地 (gēngdì) is treated not just as land, but as a cornerstone of national sovereignty and social stability.

耕地 (gēngdì) is a formal term. You will encounter it frequently in:

• News Broadcasts: Especially in reports about agriculture, rural development, urbanization, and environmental protection.
• Government Documents: Policies, laws, and official reports are filled with this term.
• Academic Discussions: Geographers, economists, and sociologists use 耕地 (gēngdì) when discussing land use and resource management.

It's not typically used in casual, everyday conversation. If you were talking to a friend about your family's farm, you would more likely use the term `农田 (nóngtián)` or simply `地 (dì)`. Using 耕地 (gēngdì) in a casual chat might sound overly formal or academic, as if you were quoting a government report. Its connotation is neutral to serious, emphasizing the land's function and strategic value.

• Example 1:
  • 中国的耕地面积正在逐年减少。
  • Pinyin: Zhōngguó de gēngdì miànjī zhèngzài zhúnián jiǎnshǎo.
  • English: China's area of arable land is decreasing year by year.
  • Analysis: A typical, factual statement you might read in an article about environmental or economic challenges. `面积 (miànjī)` means “area.”
• Example 2:
  • 保护耕地就是保护我们的粮食安全。
  • Pinyin: Bǎohù gēngdì jiùshì bǎohù wǒmen de liángshi ānquán.
  • English: To protect arable land is to protect our food security.
  • Analysis: This sentence clearly links 耕地 (gēngdì) to the concept of `粮食安全 (liángshi ānquán)`, or “food security,” a major government priority.
• Example 3:
  • 政府划定了十八亿亩耕地红线。
  • Pinyin: Zhèngfǔ huàdìng le shíbā yì mǔ gēngdì hóngxiàn.
  • English: The government has drawn the red line at 1.8 billion mu of arable land.
  • Analysis: This sentence directly references the famous “red line” policy, a cornerstone of modern Chinese agricultural strategy. `红线 (hóngxiàn)` is the “red line.”
• Example 4:
  • 快速的城市化侵占了大量宝贵的耕地。
  • Pinyin: Kuàisù de chéngshìhuà qīnzhànle dàliàng bǎoguì de gēngdì.
  • English: Rapid urbanization has encroached upon a large amount of precious arable land.
  • Analysis: This shows the primary conflict facing 耕地 (gēngdì) in modern China. `侵占 (qīnzhàn)` means to encroach or invade.
• Example 5:
  • 为了改善生态环境，一些地区实行了退耕还林政策。
  • Pinyin: Wèile gǎishàn shēngtài huánjìng, yīxiē dìqū shíxíngle tuì gēng huán lín zhèngcè.
  • English: To improve the ecological environment, some areas have implemented the policy of returning farmland to forest.
  • Analysis: This sentence introduces a related policy, `退耕还林 (tuì gēng huán lín)`, which literally means “retire the plowing, return the forest.” Note how `耕` from 耕地 is used here.
• Example 6:
  • 由于污染，部分耕地的质量下降了。
  • Pinyin: Yóuyú wūrǎn, bùfèn gēngdì de zhìliàng xiàjiàng le.
  • English: Due to pollution, the quality of some arable land has declined.
  • Analysis: This highlights that not just the quantity, but also the `质量 (zhìliàng)`, or “quality,” of 耕地 (gēngdì) is a major concern.
• Example 7:
  • 这片耕地已经养活了我们家好几代人。
  • Pinyin: Zhè piàn gēngdì yǐjīng yǎnghuóle wǒmen jiā hǎojǐ dài rén.
  • English: This piece of farmland has supported our family for several generations.
  • Analysis: A more personal and historical use of the term, connecting 耕地 (gēngdì) to family lineage and survival.
• Example 8:
  • 国家严格禁止将基本耕地用于非农业建设。
  • Pinyin: Guójiā yángé jìnzhǐ jiāng jīběn gēngdì yòngyú fēi nóngyè jiànshè.
  • English: The state strictly prohibits the use of basic arable land for non-agricultural construction.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses legal and policy language. `基本耕地 (jīběn gēngdì)` refers to “prime” or “basic” arable land that receives the highest level of protection.
• Example 9:
  • 提高耕地利用效率是现代农业的关键。
  • Pinyin: Tígāo gēngdì lìyòng xiàolǜ shì xiàndài nóngyè de guānjiàn.
  • English: Increasing the efficiency of arable land use is key to modern agriculture.
  • Analysis: This sentence frames 耕地 (gēngdì) in a technological and efficiency-focused context.
• Example 10:
  • 他们正在研究如何修复盐碱化的耕地。
  • Pinyin: Tāmen zhèngzài yánjiū rúhé xiūfù yánjiǎnhuà de gēngdì.
  • English: They are researching how to restore salinized arable land.
  • Analysis: This shows a scientific application of the term, referring to a specific type of soil problem affecting 耕地 (gēngdì).

A common point of confusion for learners is distinguishing 耕地 (gēngdì) from similar terms.

• 耕地 (gēngdì) vs. 土地 (tǔdì):
  • `土地 (tǔdì)` means “land” or “territory” in a very general sense. It can refer to any kind of land: a city plot, a desert, a forest, or a nation's territory.
  • 耕地 (gēngdì) is a specific type of `土地 (tǔdì)`. All `耕地` is `土地`, but not all `土地` is `耕地`.
  • Incorrect: 我想在市中心买一块耕地盖房子。 (Wǒ xiǎng zài shì zhōngxīn mǎi yīkuài gēngdì gài fángzi.) - “I want to buy a piece of arable land in the city center to build a house.”
  • Correct: 我想在市中心买一块土地盖房子。 (Wǒ xiǎng zài shì zhōngxīn mǎi yīkuài tǔdì gài fángzi.) - “I want to buy a piece of land in the city center to build a house.”
• 耕地 (gēngdì) vs. 农田 (nóngtián):
  • `农田 (nóngtián)` means “farmland” or “agricultural field.” It is a very close synonym and is often used interchangeably in non-technical contexts.
  • 耕地 (gēngdì) is generally more formal and technical. It is the preferred term in legal documents, government reports, and academic papers. It emphasizes the land's potential and classification as arable.
  • `农田 (nóngtián)` is slightly more common in everyday speech and emphasizes the land's current use as a field for farming. You can point to a field and say “那是一片农田” (That's a piece of farmland).

• 土地 (tǔdì) - Land, soil, territory. The general, all-encompassing term for land.
• 农田 (nóngtián) - Farmland, agricultural field. A close synonym for 耕地, but slightly less formal.
• 粮食安全 (liángshi ānquán) - Food security. The core reason why protecting 耕地 is a top national priority.
• 红线 (hóngxiàn) - Red line, bottom line. Often used in the phrase `耕地红线` to refer to the inviolable minimum area of arable land.
• 农业 (nóngyè) - Agriculture. The industry and science that relies on 耕地.
• 农民 (nóngmín) - Farmer, peasant. The people who work on the 耕地.
• 城市化 (chéngshìhuà) - Urbanization. The primary social and economic force that competes with 耕地 for land use.
• 退耕还林 (tuì gēng huán lín) - “Return farmland to forest.” A major environmental policy involving the conversion of 耕地 (especially on slopes) back into forest or grassland.