Definitions

sōng (noun) pine tree
sōng (adjective) loose; relaxed
sōng (verb) to loosen; to relax

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound. In simplified Chinese this character also means "relax, loosen", but in traditional Chinese this meaning is written as .

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character "松" is a phono-semantic compound formed by the tree radical "木" and the phonetic component "公", which together originally and consistently specified the pine tree within written Chinese. Its structural composition has remained largely unchanged, with the radical providing the semantic category of wood or tree and the component offering a guide to pronunciation, thereby anchoring the character firmly to its botanical reference. Over time, while the primary meaning of denoting the pine tree has persisted without alteration, the character has acquired extended metaphorical uses in literary and cultural contexts, often evoking qualities such as longevity or resilience associated with the pine's perennial nature. This semantic stability, coupled with its adaptive capacity for figurative expression, demonstrates a straightforward evolution where the character's form and core meaning have been preserved even as its applications broadened slightly.

Example Sentences Hide

树长在山上。

Sōngshù zhǎng zài shān shàng.

The pine tree grows on the mountain.

请把螺丝拧一点。

Qǐng bǎ luósī nǐng sōng yīdiǎn.

Please loosen the screw a little.

考试结束后我很放

Kǎoshì jiéshù hòu wǒ hěn fàngsōng.

I felt very relaxed after the exam ended.

他轻地回答了所有问题。

Tā qīngsōng de huídále suǒyǒu wèntí.

He answered all the questions easily.

软的蛋糕非常好吃。

Sōngruǎn de dàngāo fēichīng hào chī.

The fluffy cake is very delicious.

政策动带来了新机会。

Zhèngcè sōngdòng dài láile xīn jīhuì.

The loosening of the policy brought new opportunities.

工作了一周,周末该驰一下了。

Gōngzuòle yī zhōu, zhōumò gāi sōngchí yīxiàle.

After working for a week, it's time to unwind on the weekend.

这片林的保护工作很严格。

Zhè piàn sōnglín de bǎohù gōngzuò hěn yángé.

The protection work for this pine forest is very strict.