森

sēn

木 + 林

Definitions

sēn (noun) forest

Etymology

Combination of three trees (木).

About

The character 森 is an ideogram formed by tripling the 木 (tree/wood) component. This triple repetition indicates an abundance of trees gathered in one place, yielding the primary meaning of a dense forest or a thick cluster of trees. Later, its meaning extended to describe anything dense, numerous, or strictly ordered, and it is frequently used to convey a dark, gloomy, or solemn atmosphere, as experienced deep within a thick woods.

Etymology Hide

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

森林里有很多树。

Sēnlín lǐ yǒu hěn duō shù.

There are many trees in the forest.

我们喜欢在森林中散步。

Wǒmen xǐhuān zài sēnlín zhōng sànbù.

We like to take walks in the forest.

这座城堡守卫森严。

Zhè zuò chéngbǎo shǒuwèi sēnyán.

This castle is heavily guarded.

清晨的森林里空气特别清新。

Qīngchén de sēnlín lǐ kōngqì tèbié qīngxīn.

The air in the morning forest is especially fresh.

他的表情森然，让人害怕。

Tā de biǎoqíng sēnrán, ràng rén hàipà.

His expression is eerie, making people afraid.

保护原始森林非常重要。

Bǎohù yuánshǐ sēnlín fēicháng zhòngyào.

Protecting primitive forests is very important.

森林覆盖率是环境指标之一。

Sēnlín fùgàilǜ shì huánjìng zhǐbiāo zhī yī.

Forest coverage rate is one of the environmental indicators.

置身于这片寂静的森林中，他感到心灵得到了净化。

Zhìshēn yú zhè piàn jìjìng de sēnlín zhōng, tā gǎndào xīnlíng dédào le jìnghuà.

Being in this quiet forest, he felt his soul purified.

Related Characters

Component: 木

Component: 林

森