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March 24, 2026
杉shān(shan1)
The character 杉 (shān) refers to various species of pine and fir trees, particularly the China fir, known scientifically as Cunninghamia lanceolata. It is commonly used in contexts related to botany, forestry, and traditional Chinese architecture where these trees are valued for their wood and aesthetic qualities.
Strokes7Radical木Frequency#6969DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, certain trees like the China fir are often associated with longevity and strength, symbolizing resilience in the face of adversity. These trees are commonly found in traditional gardens and are used in construction for their durable wood.
Memory Tip
Imagine a tall, majestic tree (the pine) standing strong against the wind. The character 杉 looks like a tree (木) with a 'mountain' (山) on top, symbolizing strength and resilience. Remember the sound 'shān' as you visualize the serene mountains filled with these towering trees.
Meanings of 杉
shān(shan1)
1various species of pine and fir
2China fir
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 杉
杉Simplified
7Strokes
木Radical
其它专名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 杉
Podcast: 杉
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AI Study Notes for 杉
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a tall, majestic tree (the pine) standing strong against the wind. The character 杉 looks like a tree (木) with a 'mountain' (山) on top, symbolizing strength and resilience. Remember the sound 'shān' as you visualize the serene mountains filled with these towering trees.
Usage Notes
When using the character 杉, be mindful that it is often employed in more formal or botanical contexts. Common mistakes include confusing it with similar-sounding characters like 山 (shān, mountain) or 伞 (sǎn, umbrella). Always check the surrounding context to ensure proper usage.
HSK Study Tips
While 杉 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, understanding it can enhance your knowledge of nature-related terms. It connects to HSK Level 3 and above vocabulary that deals with plants and the environment, encouraging learners to explore related characters like 树 (shù, tree) and 林 (lín, forest).
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, certain trees like the China fir are often associated with longevity and strength, symbolizing resilience in the face of adversity. These trees are commonly found in traditional gardens and are used in construction for their durable wood.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 杉 with the character for mountain (山) due to their similar pronunciation and appearance. A common mistake is saying '山树' instead of '杉树' when referring to pine or fir trees; the correct term is '杉树'.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 杉
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Grammar Patterns of 杉
杉 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 4 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
洛____矶穷人的境况仍未得到改善。
Conditions for the poor in Los Angeles have not improved.
Example Sentences for 杉 (10)
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1
洛杉矶穷人的境况仍未得到改善。
luò shān jī qióng rén de jìng kuàng réng wèi dé dào gǎi shàn。
Conditions for the poor in Los Angeles have not improved.
bù lā dé lì jiāng zuò wéi luò shān jī rèn qī zuì cháng de shì cháng bèi zǎi rù shǐ cè。
Bradley will go down in history as Los Angeles' longest serving mayor.
Cultural Notes for 杉
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, certain trees like the China fir are often associated with longevity and strength, symbolizing resilience in the face of adversity. These trees are commonly found in traditional gardens and are used in construction for their durable wood.
Word Family of 杉
Words Containing This Character10
洛杉矶Los Angeles, California洛杉磯
杉shānChina fir
紫杉Japanese yew (taxus cuspidata)
云杉spruce雲杉
水杉metasequoia
柳杉Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica)
铁杉Tsuga chinensis鐵杉
加利福尼亚大学洛杉矶分校UCLA加利福尼亞大學洛杉磯分校
杉山Sugiyama (Japanese surname)
杉本Sugimoto (Japanese surname)
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 洛杉矶 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 杉
It is pronounced as 'shān' with a flat tone.
No, it is primarily used in specific contexts related to botany or forestry.
No, it specifically refers to species of pine and fir, not all trees.
