树

• Pinyin: shù
• Hanzi breakdown: 树 = simplified from 樹; contains 木 (wood) as semantic component

Meaning

Tree. A woody perennial plant with a trunk, branches, and leaves.

The general word for any tree. Common compounds include 大树 (big tree), 小树 (small tree/sapling), 树叶 (tree leaf), and 树下 (under a tree). Also used figuratively in the proverb 十年树木，百年树人 (ten years to grow a tree, a hundred years to nurture a person).

Examples

1. 公园里有很多树。 There are many trees in the park.
2. 这棵树很高。 This tree is very tall.
3. 小鸟在树上唱歌。 A little bird is singing in the tree.

Usage Guide

Context: nature, everyday

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 这棵树好大啊！(This tree is so big!)
• 树上有一只猫。(There is a cat in the tree.)

Don't Say

• 一个树在那里。(Wrong measure word — say 一棵树; trees use the measure word 棵, not 个)

Origin & History

The character combines 木 (wood/tree) with other components. Simplified from the traditional 樹.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal