梓

zǐ

木 + 辛

Definitions

zǐ Chinese catalpa (Catalpa ovata), a tree that serves as a symbol of one's hometown and whose wood is used to make various items; (bound form) printing blocks

Etymology

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

Semantic: 木 Phonetic: 辛

About

The character 梓 is a phono-semantic compound with the wood radical 木 on the left, classifying it botanically, and the phonetic component 辛 on the right. It originally referred specifically to the catalpa tree, a deciduous species prized in historical woodworking for its durable timber. Since its wood was extensively used by artisans for carving printing blocks, the meaning broadened to encompass publishing, printing, and book production. In modern usage, it frequently appears in publishing terminology and is a popular phonetic component in given names.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我家门口有一棵梓树。

Wǒ jiā ménkǒu yǒu yī kē zǐshù.

There is a catalpa tree at my doorstep.

梓萱是我的好朋友。

Zǐxuān shì wǒ de hǎo péngyǒu.

Zixuan is my good friend.

这种梓木材质很好。

Zhè zhǒng zǐmù cáizhì hěn hǎo.

This type of catalpa wood has good quality.

他回到了桑梓之地。

Tā huí dào le sāngzǐ zhī dì.

He returned to his hometown.

梓里乡亲都很热情。

Zǐlǐ xiāngqīn dōu hěn rèqíng.

The folks in the hometown are all very enthusiastic.

这本书的梓行很精美。

Zhè běn shū de zǐxíng hěn jīngměi.

The printing of this book is very exquisite.

她在梓园中种了许多花。

Tā zài zǐyuán zhōng zhòng le xǔduō huā.

She planted many flowers in the catalpa garden.

对于梓匠的工艺，他十分钦佩。

Duìyú zǐjiàng de gōngyì, tā shífēn qīnpèi.

He greatly admires the craftsmanship of the carpenter.

Related Characters

Component: 木

Component: 辛

梓