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桢 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
桢zhēnhardwood; posts, supportsg, 10 strokes, radical 木
桢zhēnevergreen shrubunknown, 10 strokes, radical 木
zhēn(zhen1)zhen T1
  1. 1hardwood; posts, supports
  2. 2evergreen shrub
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March 24, 2026

桢(楨)zhēn(zhen1)

The character 桢 (zhēn) primarily refers to hardwood, especially in the context of timber used for construction or furniture. It can also denote posts or supports made from sturdy wood, as well as certain types of evergreen shrubs. This term is often used in discussions about carpentry and botany.

Strokes10Radical木
Cultural note

In traditional Chinese architecture, the use of hardwood like 桢 for structural posts is essential for maintaining the integrity of buildings, reflecting the importance of nature in Chinese craftsmanship.

Memory tip

Imagine a strong wooden post (桢) holding up a house. The '木' radical (meaning wood) at the bottom of the character emphasizes its connection to sturdy materials. Picture this post as being made from a resilient tree that stands tall and evergreen, symbolizing stability and durability.

Meanings of 桢

zhēn(zhen1)
1hardwood; posts, supports
2evergreen shrub
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 桢

桢Simplified
楨Traditional
10Strokes
木Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 桢

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Podcast: 桢

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AI study notes for 桢

Usage Notes

桢 is more commonly used in formal contexts related to forestry or construction, so avoid using it in casual conversation. A common mistake is to confuse it with similar characters like '榕' (róng), which refers to a different type of tree. Pay attention to its tone when pronouncing, as mispronunciation may lead to confusion with other characters.

HSK Study Tips

Although 桢 is not included in the HSK levels, it connects well with HSK words related to nature and construction, such as '树' (tree) and '木材' (timber). When studying, focus on the context of wood and plants to better understand its usage.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 桢 with similar characters like '枢' (shū), which means pivot or hinge. Ensure you remember that 桢 relates specifically to hardwood and structural elements.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 桢

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Etymology of 桢

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

tree

Semantic (meaning)木
+
Phonetic (sound)贞
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

桢 = 木 + 贞. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 桢

IDS Structure⿰木贞
桢Full character
=
木Mu4
left
贞zhen1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 桢?

How to say hardwood; posts, supports in Chinese

“hardwood; posts, supports” in Chinese is桢zhēn

The character 桢 (zhēn) primarily refers to hardwood, especially in the context of timber used for construction or furniture. It can also denote posts or supports made from sturdy wood, as well as certain types of evergreen shrubs. This term is often used in discussions about carpentry and botany.

When to use 桢

桢 is more commonly used in formal contexts related to forestry or construction, so avoid using it in casual conversation. A common mistake is to confuse it with similar characters like '榕' (róng), which refers to a different type of tree. Pay attention to its tone when pronouncing, as mispronunciation may lead to confusion with other characters.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 桢 with similar characters like '枢' (shū), which means pivot or hinge. Ensure you remember that 桢 relates specifically to hardwood and structural elements.

Write 桢

桢

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

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Grammar patterns of 桢

桢 carries 2 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.

Exercise 1 of 1

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

春,绝对是一____浸染着生命之色的画布.

Spring is definitely a life ching disseminated the canvas color.

Example sentences for 桢 (1)

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1
春,绝对是一桢浸染着生命之色的画布.

chūn, juéduì shì yī zhēn jìn rǎn zhe shēngmìng zhī sè de huà bù.

Spring is definitely a life ching disseminated the canvas color.

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Word Family of 桢

Words containing this character2
桢zhēnevergreen shrub楨
竺可桢Zhu Kezhen (1890-1974), Chinese metereologist and geologist竺可楨
Exercise 1 of 1

Words with 桢

What does 竺可桢 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 桢

桢 specifically refers to hardwood, while other characters may refer to different types of trees or wood.

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