柳树

• Pinyin: liǔ shù
• Hanzi breakdown: 柳 = 木 + 卯 (wood + branch-like radical); 树 = 木 + 又 + 寸 (tree cultivated by hand)

Meaning

Willow tree. A deciduous tree known for its long, drooping branches, often found near water.

Deeply embedded in Chinese culture and poetry, the willow (柳) symbolises flexibility, parting, and spring. Historically, friends would break willow branches to bid farewell. Appears frequently in classical poetry and is associated with the Qingming Festival.

Examples

1. 河边的柳树随风摇曳，细长的枝条垂入水面，勾勒出一幅江南水乡的画卷。 The willow trees by the river swayed in the wind, their slender branches drooping into the water, painting a picture of a Jiangnan water town.
2. 古人折柳赠别，寄托了对远行之人的依依不舍之情。 In ancient times, people would break off willow branches when saying goodbye, expressing their reluctance to part with someone leaving on a journey.
3. 春天一到，柳树率先抽出嫩芽，成为万物复苏的第一个信号。 As soon as spring arrives, willows are the first to bud, becoming the earliest sign that everything is coming back to life.

Usage Guide

Context: nature, culture, poetry

Tone: lyrical

Do Say

• 公园里一排排柳树在春风中轻轻摇摆，令人心旷神怡。(Rows of willow trees swayed gently in the spring breeze in the park, refreshing the mind and spirit.)
• 她站在湖边的柳树下，望着水中自己的倒影，若有所思。(She stood beneath a willow by the lake, gazing at her own reflection in the water, lost in thought.)

Don't Say

• 将柳树与柳叶或柳枝混用 — 柳树 refers to the whole tree, while 柳叶 means willow leaf and 柳枝 means willow branch (Don't confuse 柳树 (whole tree) with 柳叶 (leaf) or 柳枝 (branch))

Origin & History

柳 (willow) + 树 (tree)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal