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柊 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
柊zhōnghollyzg, 9 strokes, radical 木
zhōng(zhong1) T1
  1. 1holly
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

柊zhōng(zhong1)

The character 柊 (zhōng) refers to the holly plant, which is known for its distinctive red berries and spiky leaves. In Chinese culture, holly can symbolize protection and good fortune. It is commonly mentioned in botanical contexts or when discussing traditional decorations during certain festivals.

Strokes9Radical木
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, holly is often associated with the winter season and is used in decorations during festivals, particularly around the New Year, symbolizing good luck and protection against negative forces.

Memory Tip

Imagine a holly tree (柊) with its spiky leaves resembling sharp arrows (the radical '木' for tree). The '中' in the pronunciation sounds like 'zhōng', which you can remember as 'zone', and visualize a 'zone' of protection created by the holly's sharp leaves.

Meanings of 柊

zhōng(zhong1)
1holly
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 柊

柊Simplified
9Strokes
木Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 柊

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Podcast: 柊

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AI Study Notes for 柊

Usage Notes

While 柊 is not a commonly used character in everyday conversation, it may appear in botanical texts or discussions about plants. Be aware of the tone; the correct pronunciation is 'zhōng' with a high-level tone, as confusing it with 'zhòng' (重) can change the meaning entirely.

HSK Study Tips

Although 柊 is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, it can be useful for learners interested in botany or cultural references. Students at this level should focus on recognizing radical components and understanding how they relate to the meaning of the character.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 柊 with similar-sounding characters. For example, using '重' (zhòng) instead of '柊' (zhōng) can lead to misunderstandings, as 重 means 'heavy' rather than referring to the holly plant.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 柊

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Etymology of 柊

Formation TypeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Memory Hint

A winter 冬 tree 木; 冬 also provides the pronunciation

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 柊

  1. 1The giveawayA winter 冬 tree 木; 冬 also provides the pronunciation
  2. 2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 柊? 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 柊?

Decomposition of 柊

IDS Structure⿰木冬
柊Full Character
=
木Mu4
left
冬dong1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 柊?

How to say holly in Chinese

“holly” in Chinese is柊zhōng

The character 柊 (zhōng) refers to the holly plant, which is known for its distinctive red berries and spiky leaves. In Chinese culture, holly can symbolize protection and good fortune. It is commonly mentioned in botanical contexts or when discussing traditional decorations during certain festivals.

When to use 柊

While 柊 is not a commonly used character in everyday conversation, it may appear in botanical texts or discussions about plants. Be aware of the tone; the correct pronunciation is 'zhōng' with a high-level tone, as confusing it with 'zhòng' (重) can change the meaning entirely.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 柊 with similar-sounding characters. For example, using '重' (zhòng) instead of '柊' (zhōng) can lead to misunderstandings, as 重 means 'heavy' rather than referring to the holly plant.

Write 柊

柊

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 柊

Words Containing This Character1
柊zhōngPhrynium capitatum
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 柊 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 柊

柊 means 'holly' in English, referring to the plant known for its red berries.

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