About
The character 楚, which retains its traditional form without simplification, derives from an early depiction of a particular shrub known as the chaste tree or vitex. Its structure is composed of 林, meaning forest or grove, over 疋, a component that may have originally indicated movement through such an environment or functioned phonetically. Initially denoting the plant itself, the term was later borrowed to designate the ancient state of Chu during the Zhou dynasty, thus associating the character with a specific geographic and cultural region. Over centuries, the semantic range of 楚 extended from this concrete referent to abstract qualities, acquiring the sense of clarity and neatness, as in the word 清楚, while also developing meanings related to pain and suffering, exemplified by terms like 痛楚. This evolution demonstrates how a character rooted in natural imagery accumulated layers of meaning through historical and linguistic usage.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
请你说清楚。
他的话很清楚。
我清楚记得那天。
她喜欢看楚剧。
楚国是古代的国家。
他感到一阵痛楚。
她的眼神很凄楚。
他对这个问题的立场非常清楚。