杨

楊

yáng

木 + 𠃓

Definitions

yáng (noun) poplar

Yáng (noun) a surname

Etymology phono-semantic

tree

Semantic: 木

About

杨 (yáng) refers to the poplar or willow tree, with its traditional form written as 楊. It is a phono-semantic compound: the left component 木 (mù), meaning wood or tree, indicates its botanical category, while the right component 昜 (yáng) in the traditional form provides the pronunciation. In the simplified version, 昜 is replaced by a simpler structure, reducing the stroke count. Beyond its primary meaning as a tree, 杨 is now most commonly encountered as a widespread Chinese surname, with its arboreal origin largely a matter of historical note.

Etymology Hide

Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

杨先生是我们的老师。

Yáng xiānsheng shì wǒmen de lǎoshī.

Mr. Yang is our teacher.

杨树在公园里生长。

Yángshù zài gōngyuán lǐ shēngzhǎng.

Poplar trees grow in the park.

杨柳的枝条很柔软。

Yángliǔ de zhītiáo hěn róuruǎn.

The willow branches are very soft.

杨阿姨给我买了水果。

Yáng āyí gěi wǒ mǎi le shuǐguǒ.

Auntie Yang bought me fruit.

杨木家具既美观又耐用。

Yángmù jiājù jì měiguān yòu nàiyòng.

Poplar wood furniture is both beautiful and durable.

杨教授在实验室里做研究。

Yáng jiàoshòu zài shíyàn shì lǐ zuò yánjiū.

Professor Yang is doing research in the laboratory.

春天的杨树发出嫩绿的新芽。

Chūntiān de yángshù fāchū nènlǜ de xīnyá.

In spring, poplar trees sprout tender green buds.

尽管杨树生长迅速，但它的木材质量很好。

Jǐnguǎn yángshù shēngzhǎng xùnsù, dàn tā de mùcái zhìliàng hěn hǎo.

Although poplar trees grow quickly, their wood quality is very good.

Related Characters

Component: 木

Component: 𠃓

杨