Definitions
(noun)
woods; forest
(noun)
group; collection (of similar things)
Etymology
Combination of two trees (木).
About
The character "林", representing a forest or grove, originates from the duplication of the singular tree character "木", forming a compound ideograph where two instances placed side by side visually convey the concept of multiple trees gathered together. This structural principle of using repetition to indicate plurality or abundance is a foundational aspect of its etymology, with the character's form remaining consistent throughout its history, as it was not subject to graphical simplification. While its primary meaning has always been linked to wooded areas, over time "林" acquired extended applications, such as denoting groupings of similar things or people, evident in classical texts where it might refer to a collective like a community of scholars or a lineage, thereby broadening its semantic range without losing its original arboreal reference.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
这片树林很茂密。
我们去森林里探险。
竹林在春天格外美丽。
林荫道上铺满了落叶。
保护森林对环境有益。
他在林业局工作多年。
城市规划包括森林公园的建设。
林业的可持续发展需要科学管理。