棵

kē
木 + 果
HSK 2.0Level 4
HSK 3.0Level 4

Definitions

kē (classifier) classifier for trees, plants, vegetables

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 木 represents the meaning and 果 represents the sound.

Semantic: 木 Phonetic: 果

About

The character 棵 is a phono-semantic compound. Its left component, 木 (wood), establishes the semantic category of vegetation. The right component, 果 (fruit), primarily provides the phonetic element for the pronunciation kē, while also suggesting a conceptual link to tree-borne produce. Historically, it evolved into a specific measure word used for counting individual plants, trees, or cabbages. Its usage is strictly grammatical, functioning as a quantifier for standalone botanical items rather than as an independent noun or verb.

Example Sentences Hide

这里有一棵树。

zhè lǐ yǒu yī kē shù.

Here is a tree.

这棵小树苗很可爱。

zhè kē xiǎo shù miáo hěn kě ài.

This small sapling is very cute.

他每天给那棵树浇水。

tā měi tiān gěi nà kē shù jiāo shuǐ.

He waters that tree every day.

我们公园里有上百棵树。

wǒ men gōng yuán lǐ yǒu shàng bǎi kē shù.

There are hundreds of trees in our park.

每棵果树都结满了果实。

měi kē guǒ shù dōu jié mǎn le guǒ shí.

Every fruit tree is full of fruit.

她精心照料着每一棵植物。

tā jīng xīn zhào liào zhe měi yī kē zhí wù.

She takes care of every plant carefully.

由于暴风雨，好几棵大树被吹倒了。

yóu yú bào fēng yǔ， hǎo jǐ kē dà shù bèi chuī dǎo le.

Due to the storm, several big trees were blown down.

在森林里，每一棵树都在生态系统中扮演重要角色。

zài sēn lín lǐ， měi yī kē shù dōu zài shēng tài xì tǒng zhōng bàn yǎn zhòng yào jué sè.

In the forest, every tree plays an important role in the ecosystem.

Related Characters

Component: 木

样 机 相 果 权 格 术 根 极 林 集 查 李 标

Component: 果

课 颗 裸 巢 裹 踝 猓 窠 夥 髁 馃 稞 倮 锞

Example Words

塌棵菜