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楨 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
楨zhēnhardwood; posts, supportsx, 13 strokes, radical 木
zhēn(zhen1)zhen T1
  1. 1hardwood; posts, supports
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March 24, 2026

楨zhēn(zhen1)

The character 楨 (zhēn) refers to hardwood, particularly used in the context of strong, durable wood suitable for construction and support structures. It can also denote posts or supports that are essential in building and carpentry, reflecting the character's connection to sturdiness and reliability in construction materials.

Strokes13Radical木
Cultural note

In traditional Chinese architecture, the use of strong hardwoods like 楨 is essential for the construction of enduring structures, reflecting a cultural appreciation for durability and craftsmanship in building practices.

Memory tip

Think of 楨 as a sturdy tree (木) standing tall, symbolizing strength. The top component resembles a roof, protecting the strong wooden post underneath. Imagine a solid post supporting a house, which helps you remember both the meaning and pronunciation – zhēn sounds like 'zen,' suggesting stability and support.

Meanings of 楨

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

By ear

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About 楨

楨Simplified
13Strokes
木Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 楨

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Podcast: 楨

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AI Study Notes for 楨

Usage Notes

When using 楨, it is important to recognize that it is more common in formal contexts related to construction or carpentry. A common mistake is to confuse it with softer woods, so always specify that it refers to hardwood. Additionally, ensure proper tone usage; the first tone (zhēn) is crucial.

HSK Study Tips

Although 楨 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, its connection to other wood-related characters (like 木 for wood and 材 for material) can help learners expand their vocabulary. Focus on differentiating between types of wood in both pronunciation and usage.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 楨 with softer types of wood, mistakenly using it in contexts where softer woods are mentioned. For example, saying '我需要一些楨来做桌子' (I need some 楨 to make a table) is incorrect if referring to a casual, lighter table. Instead, specify the type of wood needed.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 楨

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Etymology of 楨

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

tree

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

Origin

楨 = 木 + 貞. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 楨

IDS Structure⿰木貞
楨Full character
=
木Mu4
left
貞zhen1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 楨?

How to say hardwood; posts, supports in Chinese

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

The character 楨 (zhēn) refers to hardwood, particularly used in the context of strong, durable wood suitable for construction and support structures. It can also denote posts or supports that are essential in building and carpentry, reflecting the character's connection to sturdiness and reliability in construction materials.

When to use 楨

When using 楨, it is important to recognize that it is more common in formal contexts related to construction or carpentry. A common mistake is to confuse it with softer woods, so always specify that it refers to hardwood. Additionally, ensure proper tone usage; the first tone (zhēn) is crucial.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 楨 with softer types of wood, mistakenly using it in contexts where softer woods are mentioned. For example, saying '我需要一些楨来做桌子' (I need some 楨 to make a table) is incorrect if referring to a casual, lighter table. Instead, specify the type of wood needed.

Write 楨

楨

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

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Word Family of 楨

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 2

Characters with 楨

What does 桢 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 楨

It's often used in discussions about construction, carpentry, and architecture, particularly when referring to durable materials.

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