枣

棗

zǎo

⺀ + 朿

HSK 3.0Level 7

Definitions

zǎo (noun) jujube; date (fruit)

Etymology

Simplified form of 棗. Pictograph of a date tree.

About

枣 (zǎo) is the simplified version of the traditional character 棗, a pictograph of a date tree. The traditional form stacks two identical 朿 (cì) components one on top of the other; each 朿 depicts a tree branch with sharp thorns, directly mirroring the jujube tree's characteristic thorniness. During simplification, these stacked thorn elements were heavily abstracted into the current 枣 shape, drawing upon historical cursive script to greatly reduce the stroke count and increase writing speed. The character denotes exclusively the jujube fruit, also called Chinese date, which is a sweet, red, edible fruit valued in everyday cuisine and traditional medicine.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Warring States (~250 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Jin dynasty (266-316 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Jin dynasty (266-420 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我喜欢吃红枣。

Wǒ xǐhuān chī hóngzǎo.

I like to eat red dates.

枣子是一种很健康的水果。

Zǎozi shì yī zhǒng hěn jiànkāng de shuǐguǒ.

Dates are a very healthy fruit.

妈妈用枣做了美味的蛋糕。

Māma yòng zǎo zuò le měiwèi de dàngāo.

Mom made a delicious cake with dates.

奶奶的院子里有一棵枣树。

Nǎinai de yuànzi lǐ yǒu yī kē zǎoshù.

There is a jujube tree in grandma's yard.

这包新疆大枣非常香甜。

Zhè bāo Xīnjiāng dàzǎo fēicháng xiāngtián.

This bag of Xinjiang jujubes is very fragrant and sweet.

枣树的叶子在秋天变黄。

Zǎoshù de yèzi zài qiūtiān biàn huáng.

The leaves of the jujube tree turn yellow in autumn.

采摘园里可以亲自摘枣子。

Cǎizhāi yuán lǐ kěyǐ qīnzì zhāi zǎozi.

You can pick dates yourself at the picking garden.

这棵老枣树每年结的枣都特别甜。

Zhè kē lǎo zǎoshù měi nián jiē de zǎo dōu tèbié tián.

The dates produced by this old jujube tree every year are especially sweet.

Related Characters

Component: ⺀

Component: 朿

Example Words