Definitions

xiàng (noun) oak
xiàng (noun) rubber

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character 橡 is a phono-semantic compound. The wood radical 木 on the left indicates it belongs to the category of trees or wood. The right component 象, meaning elephant, provides its phonetic pronunciation. Originally, 橡 referred to specific oak trees and their acorns. Following increased contact with the West, the character's meaning expanded to include rubber trees. This broadened its modern usage to encompass rubber, latex products, and erasers, extending its sense from hard wood to elastic materials.

Etymology Hide

Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

胶很有弹性。

Xiàngjiāo hěn yǒu tánxìng.

Rubber is very elastic.

树很高大。

Xiàngshù hěn gāodà.

The oak tree is very tall.

地上有子。

Dìshàng yǒu xiàngzi.

There are acorns on the ground.

木家具很耐用。

Xiàngmù jiājù hěn nàiyòng.

Oak wood furniture is very durable.

这个球是胶制成的。

Zhège qiú shì xiàngjiāo zhìchéng de.

This ball is made of rubber.

树林里有很多鸟。

Xiàngshùlín lǐ yǒu hěn duō niǎo.

There are many birds in the oak forest.

子可以用来制作饲料。

Xiàngzi kěyǐ yòng lái zhìzuò sìliào.

Acorns can be used to make feed.

胶工业在经济发展中扮演重要角色。

Xiàngjiāo gōngyè zài jīngjì fāzhǎn zhōng bànyǎn zhòngyào juésè.

The rubber industry plays an important role in economic development.