树林

• Pinyin: shù lín
• Hanzi breakdown: 树 = 木 (wood) + 对 (pair) + 寸 (inch), simplified from 樹; 林 = two 木 (trees) side by side, meaning a grove

Meaning

Woods; grove; a small area of trees growing closely together.

Refers to a cluster or area of trees, smaller than a forest (森林) but larger than a few individual trees. Commonly found in parks, countryside, or suburban areas. Often used in descriptions of nature and outdoor activities.

Examples

1. 公园后面有一片小树林。 There is a small grove behind the park.
2. 我们在树林里散步的时候看到了几只松鼠。 We saw a few squirrels while walking in the woods.
3. 秋天的树林特别漂亮，到处都是金黄色的叶子。 The woods are especially beautiful in autumn, with golden leaves everywhere.

Usage Guide

Context: nature, outdoors

Tone: descriptive

Do Say

• 这片树林里的空气特别新鲜。(The air in this grove is especially fresh.)
• 小时候我经常在村子旁边的树林里玩。(When I was little, I often played in the woods near the village.)

Don't Say

• 亚马逊树林非常大。(Don't use 树林 for a vast forest like the Amazon — use 森林 for large, dense forests.)

Origin & History

Compound of 树 (tree) and 林 (grove, woods), with 林 itself being two trees side by side.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal