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柽 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
柽chēngwillow, tamariskn, 9 strokes, radical 木
chēng(cheng1) T1
  1. 1willow, tamarisk
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

柽(檉)chēng(cheng1)

The character 柽 (chēng) refers to a type of plant, specifically the willow or tamarisk. It is commonly used in botanical contexts and may appear in discussions about nature, gardening, or traditional medicine.

Strokes9Radical木
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese culture, willows are often associated with resilience and flexibility. They are commonly planted near water bodies and symbolize the beauty of nature in poetry and art.

Memory Tip

Think of 柽 (chēng) as a 'tree' (木, mù) with 'branches' (丷, a component of the character) that are flexible and sway in the wind like a willow. Picture a gentle breeze rustling through the branches of a willow tree, reminding you of the sound 'chēng' as it dances.

Meanings of 柽

chēng(cheng1)
1willow, tamarisk
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 柽

柽Simplified
檉Traditional
9Strokes
木Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 柽

JasonAmy

Podcast: 柽

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 柽

Usage Notes

This character is rarely used in everyday conversation, making it more common in written texts, especially in scientific or literary contexts. Be careful not to confuse it with similar-sounding words, and remember that it is considered more formal or technical.

HSK Study Tips

While 柽 is not included in HSK, it connects with HSK Level 3 vocabulary related to nature and plants. Students should focus on recognizing plant-related terms and their usage in botanical discussions.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 柽 with other tree-related characters due to similar pronunciation. For instance, mistakenly saying '树' (shù, tree) instead of '柽' (chēng) when discussing specific types can lead to inaccuracies.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 柽

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Etymology of 柽

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory Hint

tree

Semantic (meaning)木
+
Phonetic (sound)圣
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 柽

  1. 1The meaning half木 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half圣 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawaytree
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 柽? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 柽?

Decomposition of 柽

IDS Structure⿰木圣
柽Full Character
=
木Mu4
left
圣sheng4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 柽?

How to say willow, tamarisk in Chinese

“willow, tamarisk” in Chinese is柽chēng

The character 柽 (chēng) refers to a type of plant, specifically the willow or tamarisk. It is commonly used in botanical contexts and may appear in discussions about nature, gardening, or traditional medicine.

When to use 柽

This character is rarely used in everyday conversation, making it more common in written texts, especially in scientific or literary contexts. Be careful not to confuse it with similar-sounding words, and remember that it is considered more formal or technical.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 柽 with other tree-related characters due to similar pronunciation. For instance, mistakenly saying '树' (shù, tree) instead of '柽' (chēng) when discussing specific types can lead to inaccuracies.

Write 柽

柽

Practice writing 柽 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 柽

Words Containing This Character1
柽chēngtamarisk檉
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 柽 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 柽

While 柽 specifically refers to willow or tamarisk, other characters like 椰 (yē) refer to coconut trees. Each character denotes a distinct type of plant.

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Not sure what to learn after 柽?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.