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楊 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
楊yángwillow, poplar, aspen; surnamezg, 13 strokes, radical 木, rank #96335, Very Hard
yáng(yang2)yang T2
  1. 1willow, poplar, aspen; surname
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March 24, 2026

楊yáng(yang2)

The character 楊 (yáng) primarily refers to types of trees, specifically willows, poplars, and aspens. It can also serve as a surname in Chinese culture, often associated with historical figures and families. In contexts like botany or poetry, it evokes imagery of nature and grace.

Strokes13Radical木Frequency#96335DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, the poplar tree (楊) is often associated with resilience and adaptability, making it a common symbol in poetry and art. It is also frequently mentioned in traditional Chinese literature, where it represents beauty and tranquility.

Memory tip

Imagine a tall, elegant tree swaying in the wind – that's the poplar (楊). The character has the radical for 'tree' (木) on the left, suggesting a connection to wood and nature. To remember the pronunciation, think of 'yang' as 'young' trees that grow vigorously.

Meanings of 楊

yáng(yang2)
1willow, poplar, aspen; surname
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 楊

楊Simplified
13Strokes
木Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 楊

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Podcast: 楊

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AI Study Notes for 楊

Usage Notes

楊 is often used in literary contexts or when discussing specific types of trees. Be cautious not to confuse it with other similar characters like 榆 (yú, elm) or 柳 (liǔ, willow), which have different meanings. It's common in both formal and informal settings, especially in names.

HSK Study Tips

Although 楊 is not included in the HSK levels, it connects well with other nature-related vocabulary. Students should focus on recognizing its components, especially the tree radical (木), to enhance their understanding of related characters.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mispronounce 楊 as 'yāng' instead of the correct 'yáng'. Additionally, some may confuse it with similar-sounding characters like 羊 (yáng, sheep), which have entirely different meanings. Always remember the tree radical to avoid this mistake.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 楊

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Etymology of 楊

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

tree

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

Origin

楊 = 木 + 昜. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 楊

IDS Structure⿰木昜
楊Full character
=
木Mu4
left
昜yang2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 楊?

How to say willow, poplar, aspen; surname in Chinese

“willow, poplar, aspen; surname” in Chinese is楊yáng

The character 楊 (yáng) primarily refers to types of trees, specifically willows, poplars, and aspens. It can also serve as a surname in Chinese culture, often associated with historical figures and families. In contexts like botany or poetry, it evokes imagery of nature and grace.

When to use 楊

楊 is often used in literary contexts or when discussing specific types of trees. Be cautious not to confuse it with other similar characters like 榆 (yú, elm) or 柳 (liǔ, willow), which have different meanings. It's common in both formal and informal settings, especially in names.

What learners get wrong

Learners often mispronounce 楊 as 'yāng' instead of the correct 'yáng'. Additionally, some may confuse it with similar-sounding characters like 羊 (yáng, sheep), which have entirely different meanings. Always remember the tree radical to avoid this mistake.

Write 楊

楊

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

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Word Family of 楊

Words containing this character17
杨yángpoplar楊
白杨poplar白楊
白杨树white poplar (Populus bonatii)白楊樹
杨梅red bayberry楊梅
杨树yángshùpoplar tree楊樹
杨澜Yang Lan (1968-), Chinese media proprietor, journalist, and talk show hostess楊瀾
杨柳willow tree楊柳
杨利伟Yang Liwei (1965-), astronaut, first Chinese citizen in space楊利偉
杨百翰Brigham Young楊百翰
杨振宁Chen-Ning Franklin Yang (1922-), theoretical physicist, co-developer of Yang-Mills gauge theory, 1957 Nobel laureate楊振寧
水杨酸salicylic acid水楊酸
杨浦区Yangpu district, central Shanghai楊浦區
杨尚昆Yang Shangkun (1907-1998), former president of PRC and military leader楊尚昆
百步穿杨to shoot with great precision (idiom)百步穿楊
杨斌Yang Bin (1963-), Chinese-Dutch businessman楊斌
杨虎城Yang Hucheng (1893-1949), Chinese warlord and Nationalist general楊虎城
杨森Yang Sen (1884-1977), Sichuan warlord and general楊森
Exercise 1 of 4

Characters with 楊

What does 杨 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 楊

In everyday conversation, 楊 usually refers to the types of trees it represents, but it can also come up when discussing surnames.

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