Definitions

liú pomegranate

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character 榴 is structured as a phono-semantic compound, combining the tree radical 木 to signify its botanical nature with the component 留 which provides its phonetic cue, historically used specifically to denote the pomegranate, both the tree and its fruit, a usage that remains primary in words like 石榴. Over centuries, its application expanded to other similar fruits, most notably in the term 榴莲 for the durian, reflecting a semantic extension based on shared characteristics such as a tough outer rind and segmented interior, while its written form has maintained consistency in traditional orthography without alteration to its fundamental composition.

Example Sentences Hide

我喜欢吃石

Wǒ xǐhuān chī shíliu.

I like to eat pomegranate.

他买了一个莲。

Tā mǎi le yī gè liúlián.

He bought a durian.

莲的味道很特别。

Liúlián de wèidào hěn tèbié.

The taste of durian is very special.

汁很有营养。

Shíliu zhī hěn yǒu yíngyǎng.

Pomegranate juice is very nutritious.

莲比香蕉贵很多。

Liúlián bǐ xiāngjiāo guì hěnduō.

Durian is much more expensive than bananas.

秋天是石成熟的季节。

Qiūtiān shì shíliu chéngshú de jìjié.

Autumn is the season when pomegranates ripen.

妈妈不喜欢莲的气味。

Māma bù xǐhuān liúlián de qìwèi.

Mom doesn't like the smell of durian.

虽然莲气味难闻,但是很多人爱吃。

Suīrán liúlián qìwèi nánwén, dànshì hěnduō rén ài chī.

Although durian smells bad, many people love to eat it.