杏

xìng

口 + 木

Definitions

xìng (noun) apricot

xìng (noun) almond

Etymology

Depicts a fruit from a tree (木) that is delicious to taste (口).

About

杏 is composed of 木 (tree) on top and 口 (mouth) below, a combination that represents a fruit from a tree that is delicious to taste. The tree radical establishes the botanical domain, and the mouth component suggests consumption, making the character an ideogram for a tree prized for its edible fruit. It denotes the apricot tree and its sweet, fleshy fruit, cultivated and eaten for thousands of years. Apricot kernels are valued in traditional herbal medicine, so 杏 commonly appears in medical writing and pharmaceutical names.

Etymology Hide

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我喜欢吃杏子。

Wǒ xǐhuān chī xìngzi.

I like to eat apricots.

杏树开花了。

Xìngshù kāi huā le.

The apricot tree is blooming.

杏仁很美味。

Xìngrén hěn měiwèi.

Almonds are delicious.

杏子的颜色很漂亮。

Xìngzi de yánsè hěn piàoliang.

The color of apricots is very beautiful.

春天杏花盛开。

Chūntiān xìnghuā shèngkāi.

In spring, apricot blossoms bloom abundantly.

我买了杏仁饼干。

Wǒ mǎi le xìngrén bǐnggān.

I bought almond cookies.

杏子富含维生素。

Xìngzi fùhán wéishēngsù.

Apricots are rich in vitamins.

在果园里，杏树结满了果实。

Zài guǒyuán lǐ, xìngshù jié mǎn le guǒshí.

In the orchard, the apricot trees are full of fruit.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 口

Component: 木

杏