核桃

• Pinyin: hé tao
• Hanzi breakdown: 核 = 木 + 亥 (hard core/kernel of a fruit); 桃 = 木 (tree) + 兆 (omen/billion — phonetic)

Meaning

Walnut. The edible nut of the walnut tree (Juglans regia), valued for its rich flavour, nutritional properties, and cultural significance in China.

Walnuts have been cultivated in China for millennia and hold a special cultural status. They are associated with brain health (due to their shape resembling a brain), longevity, and good fortune. Antique walnuts 文玩核桃 — specifically selected pairs of Juglans hopeiensis — are prized collector's items, polished by hand for years to achieve a glossy red patina. Walnut wood is also prized for fine furniture.

Examples

1. 医学研究表明，适量食用核桃有助于改善记忆力和降低心血管疾病的患病风险。 Medical research shows that eating walnuts in moderation can help improve memory and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.
2. 云南出产的核桃个大饱满、油脂丰富，是市场上公认的优质品种，深受消费者喜爱。 Walnuts from Yunnan are large, plump, and rich in oils; they’re widely recognized as a premium variety and are popular with consumers.
3. 老人手中把玩的那对文玩核桃已盘了二十余年，表面光润如玉，泛着深沉的枣红色光泽。 The pair of collectible walnuts the elderly man was handling had been polished for more than twenty years; their surface was smooth as jade, with a deep reddish-brown sheen.

Usage Guide

Context: food, health, culture, collecting

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 早餐时加入几颗核桃，是简便易行的补脑健脑方式，适合各年龄层人群。(Adding a few walnuts to breakfast is a simple and practical way to nourish the brain, suitable for people of all ages.)
• 他收藏文玩核桃多年，对各产地品种的纹路与质地如数家珍，鉴别真伪从不失手。(He has collected antique walnuts for many years and knows the grains and textures of varieties from different origins like the back of his hand — he never makes a mistake in authenticating them.)

Don't Say

• 核桃 for other tree nuts like almonds or hazelnuts — use 杏仁 for almonds or 榛子 for hazelnuts; 核桃 refers specifically to walnuts

Origin & History

核 (nut; kernel; hard seed) + 桃 (peach; round fruit)

Cultural Context

Era: Traditional to present

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal