树

樹

shù

对 + 木

HSK 2.0Level 3

HSK 3.0Level 3

Definitions

shù (noun) tree

shù (verb) to plant; to cultivate

shù (verb) to set up; to establish

Etymology

Simplified form of 樹. Phonosemantic compound. 木 represents the meaning and 尌 represents the sound.

Semantic: 木 Phonetic: 对

About

树 is the simplified form of the traditional character 樹, which was a phono-semantic compound: 木 (wood) on the left gives the meaning, and 尌 provides the sound. In simplification, the complex right side was replaced by 对 to reduce strokes and provide a new phonetic approximation. Originally, the character functioned as a verb meaning to plant, cultivate, or set something upright in the ground. Its use later shifted predominantly to a noun meaning a living tree, while retaining abstract verbal senses like to establish, build up, or set a standard.

Etymology Hide

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这里有一棵树。

Zhèlǐ yǒu yī kē shù.

There is a tree here.

大树很高大。

Dà shù hěn gāodà.

The big tree is very tall.

我们在树下休息。

Wǒmen zài shù xià xiūxi.

We are resting under the tree.

树上有一只小鸟。

Shù shàng yǒu yī zhī xiǎo niǎo.

There is a small bird on the tree.

他种了一棵苹果树。

Tā zhòng le yī kē píngguǒ shù.

He planted an apple tree.

春天来了，树木都变绿了。

Chūntiān lái le, shùmù dōu biàn lǜ le.

Spring has come, and the trees have turned green.

公司要树立良好的形象。

Gōngsī yào shùlì liánghǎo de xíngxiàng.

The company needs to establish a good image.

环境保护需要我们多种树。

Huánjìng bǎohù xūyào wǒmen duō zhòng shù.

Environmental protection requires us to plant more trees.

Related Characters

Component: 对

Component: 木

树