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椰 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
椰yēpalm tree, coconut treen, 12 strokes, radical 木, rank #17293, Very Hard
椰yēcoconut palmunknown, 12 strokes, radical 木, rank #17293, Very Hard
椰yēTaiwan pr. [ye2]unknown, 12 strokes, radical 木, rank #17293, Very Hard
yē(ye1)ye T1
  1. 1palm tree, coconut tree
  2. 2coconut palm
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March 24, 2026

椰yē(ye1)

The character 椰 (yē) refers to a palm tree, specifically the coconut palm, which is known for its large, long leaves and fruit. It is commonly associated with tropical climates and is often found in coastal areas. In culinary contexts, it refers to coconuts or products derived from them, such as coconut milk.

Strokes12Radical木Frequency#17293DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

Coconuts are significant in various aspects of Taiwanese culture, often used in traditional dishes and as a symbol of tropical beauty. The coconut palm is also a staple in many tropical islands, representing relaxation and leisure.

Memory tip

Imagine a tall palm tree swaying gently in the tropical breeze, its coconuts dangling like little 'yey' (yay) balloons. The character 椰 has a radical for 'tree' (木) which visually connects to its meaning, and the pronunciation 'yē' can remind you of the joyous sound 'yay!' when you see one.

Meanings of 椰

yē(ye1)
1palm tree, coconut tree
2coconut palm
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 椰

椰Simplified
12Strokes
木Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 椰

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Podcast: 椰

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AI Study Notes for 椰

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 椰 with similar-sounding characters or mistakenly use it in non-tropical contexts. It is generally used in informal settings when discussing food or nature. Be careful with the tone, as a wrong tone can lead to confusion with other words.

HSK Study Tips

While 椰 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it connects well with other nature-related words like 树 (shù - tree) and 果 (guǒ - fruit). Focus on recognizing the radical 木 to help remember its meaning related to trees.

Common Mistakes

Learners may confuse 椰 with 叶 (yè - leaf), leading to incorrect sentences like '我喜欢椰' (I like the leaf) instead of using the correct context. Remember that 椰 relates specifically to coconut palms, not just any tree or leaf.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 椰

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Etymology of 椰

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

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

Memory hint

tree

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

Origin

椰 = 木 + 耶. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 椰

IDS Structure⿰木耶
椰Full character
=
木Mu4
left
耶ye1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 椰?

How to say palm tree, coconut tree in Chinese

“palm tree, coconut tree” in Chinese is椰yē

The character 椰 (yē) refers to a palm tree, specifically the coconut palm, which is known for its large, long leaves and fruit. It is commonly associated with tropical climates and is often found in coastal areas. In culinary contexts, it refers to coconuts or products derived from them, such as coconut milk.

When to use 椰

Learners often confuse 椰 with similar-sounding characters or mistakenly use it in non-tropical contexts. It is generally used in informal settings when discussing food or nature. Be careful with the tone, as a wrong tone can lead to confusion with other words.

What learners get wrong

Learners may confuse 椰 with 叶 (yè - leaf), leading to incorrect sentences like '我喜欢椰' (I like the leaf) instead of using the correct context. Remember that 椰 relates specifically to coconut palms, not just any tree or leaf.

Write 椰

椰

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

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Grammar Patterns of 椰

椰 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 3 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 5

Fill the gap

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

日落时开斋,按传统会吃____枣、喝水。

The fast is broken at sunset, traditionally with dates and water.

Example Sentences for 椰 (8)

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1
日落时开斋,按传统会吃椰枣、喝水。

rì là shí kāi zhāi, àn chuántǒng huì chī yē zǎo、 hēshuǐ。

The fast is broken at sunset, traditionally with dates and water.
2
内陆的平地和山谷中种着茂密的椰子树。

nèi liù de píng dì hé shāngǔ zhōng zhǒng zhe màomì de yēzi shù。

The interior flatlands and valleys are thickly planted with coconuts.
3
把花椰菜掰成一块块小花,然后仔细地把它们洗干净.

bǎ huā yē cài bāi chéng yī kuài kuài xiǎo huā, ránhòu zǐxì dì bǎ tāmen xǐ gānjìng.

Divide the broccoli into florets and wash them thoroughly.
4
我正在弄花椰菜的调味汁呢。

wǒ zhèngzài nòng huā yē cài de tiáowèi zhī ne。

I'm just making the sauce for the cauliflower.
5
椰丝粉团是一道克里奥尔菜。

yē sī fěn tuán shì yídào kè lǐ ào ěr cài。

Coconut Rice Balls is a Creole dish.
6
椰子提供 “ 肉类 ”, 饮料 、 油脂 、 肥皂和做钓(鱼)丝的纤维.

yēzi tígōng “ ròu lèi ”, yǐnliào、 yóu zhī、 féizào hé zuò diào( yú) sī de xiānwéi.

Coconuts provide " meat ", drink, oil, soap and fiber for fishing line.
7
连椰子树都似乎憋得头昏脑胀,巴望能舒上一口气.

lián yēzi shù dōu sìhū biē de tóu hūn nǎo zhàng, Bā wàng néng Shū shàng yìkǒuqì.

Even the coconut trees seemed swollen and expectant.
8
他正隔着湖面,透过几株稀疏的椰子树,眺望着“娶西瓦 ” 号的船帆.

tā zhèng gé zhe hú miàn, tòuguò jǐ zhū xī shū de yēzi shù, tiàowàng zhe“ qǔ xī wǎ ” hào de chuán fān.

He was looking across the lagoon to where the Nuhiva's sails showed through the sparse coconuts.

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Word Family of 椰

Words containing this character10
椰子yēzicoconut
椰yēcoconut palm
花椰菜cauliflower
椰汁coconut water
椰林coconut grove
椰菜cabbage
椰蓉desiccated coconut
椰油palm oil
椰子汁coconut water
海椰子coco de mer or "sea coconut" (Lodoicea maldivica)
Exercise 1 of 4

Words with 椰

What does 椰子 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 椰

It means palm tree or coconut tree, particularly referring to the coconut palm.

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