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梓 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
梓zǐCatalpa ovatanrt, 11 strokes, radical 木, rank #55683, Very Hard
梓zǐCatalpa kaempferiunknown, 11 strokes, radical 木, rank #55683, Very Hard
梓zǐprinting blocksunknown, 11 strokes, radical 木, rank #55683, Very Hard
zǐ(zi3) T3
  1. 1Catalpa ovata
  2. 2Catalpa kaempferi
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

梓zǐ(zi3)

The character 梓 (zǐ) primarily refers to the Catalpa tree, specifically the species Catalpa ovata and Catalpa kaempferi. In a printing context, it also denotes printing blocks made from this wood, historically valued for its quality in book production.

Strokes11Radical木Frequency#55683DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

The Catalpa tree has historical significance in China, often associated with traditional medicine and carpentry. Its wood was prized for making high-quality printing blocks in ancient publishing.

Memory Tip

Imagine a tree with wide branches and thick leaves, representing the Catalpa tree. The character 梓 resembles a tree (木) with a fancy structure on top, hinting at its use in printing, much like a grand printing press towering over the landscape.

Meanings of 梓

zǐ(zi3)
1Catalpa ovata
2Catalpa kaempferi
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 梓

梓Simplified
11Strokes
木Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 梓

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Podcast: 梓

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 梓

Usage Notes

While 梓 is not commonly used in everyday conversation, it might appear in literary or botanical contexts. Be cautious not to confuse it with similar-sounding words; its tone is important, as mispronouncing it can lead to misunderstandings.

HSK Study Tips

Although 梓 is not a part of the HSK vocabulary, learners should focus on recognizing it as part of botanical terminology. Connecting it with other plant-related words can enhance vocabulary retention.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mispronounce 梓 as 'zi' without the correct tone, which can lead to confusion with other characters. Remember, it is pronounced with a rising tone: zǐ.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 梓

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Etymology of 梓

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

Phonosemantic compound. 木 represents the meaning and 辛 represents the sound.

Memory Hint

tree

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 梓

Phonosemantic compound. 木 represents the meaning and 辛 represents the sound.

  1. 1The meaning half木 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half辛 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 梓? 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 梓?

Decomposition of 梓

IDS Structure⿰木辛
梓Full Character
=
木Mu4
left
辛Xin1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 梓?

How to say Catalpa ovata in Chinese

“Catalpa ovata” in Chinese is梓zǐ

The character 梓 (zǐ) primarily refers to the Catalpa tree, specifically the species Catalpa ovata and Catalpa kaempferi. In a printing context, it also denotes printing blocks made from this wood, historically valued for its quality in book production.

When to use 梓

While 梓 is not commonly used in everyday conversation, it might appear in literary or botanical contexts. Be cautious not to confuse it with similar-sounding words; its tone is important, as mispronouncing it can lead to misunderstandings.

What learners get wrong

Learners often mispronounce 梓 as 'zi' without the correct tone, which can lead to confusion with other characters. Remember, it is pronounced with a rising tone: zǐ.

Write 梓

梓

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar Patterns of 梓

梓 carries 3 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 2

Complete the Sentence

直到付____的那一刻他才完稿。

He was writing the book up to the moment the presses rolled.

Example Sentences for 梓 (1)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
直到付梓的那一刻他才完稿。

zhí dào fù zǐ de nà yī kè tā cái wán gǎo。

He was writing the book up to the moment the presses rolled.

Word Family of 梓

Words Containing This Character10
梓zǐCatalpa kaempferi
桐梓Taongzi county in Zun'yi 遵義|遵义[Zūn​yì], Guizhou
桐梓县Taongzi county in Zun'yi 遵義|遵义[Zūn​yì], Guizhou桐梓縣
桑梓homeland
梓潼Zitong county in Mianyang 綿陽|绵阳[Mián​yáng], north Sichuan
付梓to send (a manuscript) to the press
吴敬梓Wu Jingzi (1701-1754), Qing dynasty novelist, author of The Scholars 儒林外史[Rú​lín​Wài​shǐ]吳敬梓
梓潼县Zitong county in Mianyang 綿陽|绵阳[Mián​yáng], north Sichuan梓潼縣
梓官乡Ziguan or Tzukuan township in Kaohsiung county 高雄縣|高雄县[Gāo​xióng​xiàn], southwest Taiwan梓官鄉
楠梓区Nanzi or Nantzu district of Kaohsiung city 高雄市[Gāo​xióng​shì], south Taiwan楠梓區
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 梓 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 梓

In modern contexts, 梓 is primarily known as a type of tree, but it may also refer to its historical use in printing.

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