核

覈

hé

亥 + 木

HSK 3.0Level 7

Definitions

hé (noun,adjective) nucleus; nuclear

hé (noun) pit; stone (of fruit)

hé (verb) to examine; to verify

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 木 represents the meaning and 亥 represents the sound.

Semantic: 木 Phonetic: 亥

About

The character 核 (hé) is a phono-semantic compound. Its semantic radical 木 (mù) indicates a connection to trees or wood, while 亥 (hài) provides the phonetic component. The original meaning referred specifically to the pit or seed within a fruit. This concrete sense later extended metaphorically to denote the essential core or nucleus of any object or concept. This broader application eventually led to its adoption in scientific terminology for atomic nuclei and related concepts in nuclear physics and energy.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这个桃子有一个核。

Zhège táozi yǒu yīgè hé.

This peach has a pit.

核心团队很重要。

Héxīn tuánduì hěn zhòngyào.

The core team is very important.

核能是一种清洁能源。

Hénéng shì yī zhǒng qīngjié néngyuán.

Nuclear energy is a type of clean energy.

我们需要核对一下数据。

Wǒmen xūyào héduì yīxià shùjù.

We need to check the data.

核电站必须安全运行。

Hédiànzhàn bìxū ānquán yùnxíng.

Nuclear power plants must operate safely.

核武器扩散是国际关切的问题。

Héwǔqì kuòsàn shì guójì guānqiè de wèntí.

The proliferation of nuclear weapons is an issue of international concern.

医生建议他做核磁共振检查。

Yīshēng jiànyì tā zuò hécí gòngzhèn jiǎnchá.

The doctor suggested that he undergo an MRI scan.

核计成本是项目管理的关键。

Héjì chéngběn shì xiàngmù guǎnlǐ de guānjiàn.

Calculating costs is key to project management.

Related Characters

Component: 亥

Component: 木

核