Definitions

shān (noun) China fir; cedar
shā (noun) China fir; cedar

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character "杉" originated as a phono-semantic compound within Chinese script, integrating the tree radical "木" to semantically anchor it in the category of plants with the component "彡" serving as a phonetic indicator for its pronunciation. This structure has consistently denoted specific coniferous trees, primarily cedars and firs, since its early attestations. Over time, its core botanical meaning has remained largely unchanged, though it has been adopted into various compound terms and place names, extending its application while retaining its fundamental reference to these trees. The character's design exemplifies the classical principle of combining semantic and phonetic elements to create stable and recognizable written symbols for natural entities.

Etymology Hide

Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Jin dynasty (266-316 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

山上有很多树。

Shān shàng yǒu hěn duō shān shù.

There are many fir trees on the mountain.

木可以用来做家具。

Shān mù kě yǐ yòng lái zuò jiā jù.

Fir wood can be used to make furniture.

这片林非常茂密。

Zhè piàn shān lín fēi cháng mào mì.

This fir forest is very dense.

是一种古老的树种。

Shuǐ shān shì yī zhǒng gǔ lǎo de shù zhǒng.

Metasequoia is an ancient tree species.

和冷都是常见的针叶树。

Yún shān hé lěng shān dōu shì cháng jiàn de zhēn yè shù.

Spruce and fir are both common coniferous trees.

我们在树下搭了一个帐篷。

Wǒ men zài shān shù xià dā le yī gè zhàng peng.

We set up a tent under the fir tree.

由于过度砍伐,这片林面积减少了。

Yóu yú guò dù kǎn fá, zhè piàn shān lín miàn jī jiǎn shǎo le.

Due to over-logging, the area of this fir forest has decreased.

保护野生树种群对于维持生态平衡至关重要。

Bǎo hù yě shēng shān shù zhǒng qún duì yú wéi chí shēng tài píng héng zhì guān zhòng yào.

Protecting wild fir tree populations is crucial for maintaining ecological balance.