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March 24, 2026
棕zōng(zong1)
The character 棕 (zōng) primarily refers to the color brown and can also denote various types of palm trees and the fibers derived from them, such as coir. It is commonly used in contexts related to nature, textiles, and colors, often associated with earthy tones and organic materials.
Strokes12Radical木Frequency#10471DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, brown is often associated with stability and reliability, much like the sturdy palm trees found in southern China. Palm trees also play a role in local crafts and are seen in regions famous for coconut production.
Memory Tip
Think of the character 棕 as a 'palm tree' under a brown sun, where the left side (木) represents 'tree' and the right side (宗) suggests a strong connection to nature. Imagine the palm's fibers being used to weave a cozy brown mat.
Meanings of 棕
zōng(zong1)
1palm
2palm fiber
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 棕
棕Simplified
12Strokes
木Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#10471Frequency Rank
Podcast: 棕
Podcast: 棕
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AI Study Notes for 棕
Quick Contrast
棕 (brown) vs 褐 (brown, darker shade) — use 棕 for general brown tones, while 褐 is more specific to darker or more muted shades.
Usage Notes
Be mindful that 棕 can refer both to the color brown and to palm-related items, which can lead to confusion in context. It is more common in informal settings but can also appear in descriptive language. Watch for tone errors, as mispronouncing it can change its meaning.
HSK Study Tips
Although 棕 is not included in HSK levels, it connects well to other color terms and nature-related vocabulary. Focus on its pronunciation and usage in descriptive phrases to enhance your vocabulary related to colors and plants.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 棕 with other color characters like 红 (red) or 黑 (black). For example, saying '我喜欢棕色的苹果' (I like brown apples) is incorrect; it should be '我喜欢红色的苹果' (I like red apples).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 棕
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Phonosemantic compound. 木 represents the meaning and 宗 represents the sound. Simplified form of 椶.
1The meaning half木 carries the sense.
2The sound half宗 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawaytree
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 棕? 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 棕?
Decomposition of 棕
IDS Structure⿰木宗
棕Full Character
=
木Mu4
left
宗Zong1
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 棕?
How to say palm in Chinese
“palm” in Chinese is棕zōng
The character 棕 (zōng) primarily refers to the color brown and can also denote various types of palm trees and the fibers derived from them, such as coir. It is commonly used in contexts related to nature, textiles, and colors, often associated with earthy tones and organic materials.
When to use 棕
Be mindful that 棕 can refer both to the color brown and to palm-related items, which can lead to confusion in context. It is more common in informal settings but can also appear in descriptive language. Watch for tone errors, as mispronouncing it can change its meaning.
棕 or something close to it
棕 (brown) vs 褐 (brown, darker shade) — use 棕 for general brown tones, while 褐 is more specific to darker or more muted shades.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 棕 with other color characters like 红 (red) or 黑 (black). For example, saying '我喜欢棕色的苹果' (I like brown apples) is incorrect; it should be '我喜欢红色的苹果' (I like red apples).
Write 棕
棕
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Practice writing 棕 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 棕
棕 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 5 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.
