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桢 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
zhēnhardwood; posts, supportsg, 10 strokes, radical 木, Very Hard
zhēnevergreen shrubunknown, 10 strokes, radical 木, Very Hard
zhēn(zhen1) T1
  1. 1hardwood; posts, supports
  2. 2evergreen shrub
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
(楨)zhēn(zhen1)

The character 桢 (zhēn) primarily refers to hardwood, especially in the context of timber used for construction or furniture. It can also denote posts or supports made from sturdy wood, as well as certain types of evergreen shrubs. This term is often used in discussions about carpentry and botany.

Strokes10RadicalFrequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese architecture, the use of hardwood like 桢 for structural posts is essential for maintaining the integrity of buildings, reflecting the importance of nature in Chinese craftsmanship.

Memory Tip

Imagine a strong wooden post (桢) holding up a house. The '木' radical (meaning wood) at the bottom of the character emphasizes its connection to sturdy materials. Picture this post as being made from a resilient tree that stands tall and evergreen, symbolizing stability and durability.

Meanings of 桢

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

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 桢

Simplified
Traditional
10Strokes
Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 桢

JasonAmy

Podcast:

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AI Study Notes for 桢

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a strong wooden post (桢) holding up a house. The '木' radical (meaning wood) at the bottom of the character emphasizes its connection to sturdy materials. Picture this post as being made from a resilient tree that stands tall and evergreen, symbolizing stability and durability.

Usage Notes

桢 is more commonly used in formal contexts related to forestry or construction, so avoid using it in casual conversation. A common mistake is to confuse it with similar characters like '榕' (róng), which refers to a different type of tree. Pay attention to its tone when pronouncing, as mispronunciation may lead to confusion with other characters.

HSK Study Tips

Although 桢 is not included in the HSK levels, it connects well with HSK words related to nature and construction, such as '树' (tree) and '木材' (timber). When studying, focus on the context of wood and plants to better understand its usage.

Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese architecture, the use of hardwood like 桢 for structural posts is essential for maintaining the integrity of buildings, reflecting the importance of nature in Chinese craftsmanship.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 桢 with similar characters like '枢' (shū), which means pivot or hinge. Ensure you remember that 桢 relates specifically to hardwood and structural elements.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 桢

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Etymology of 桢

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

tree

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

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 桢?

Decomposition of 桢

IDS Structure⿰木贞
Full Character
=
Mu4
left
zhen1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 桢?

Write 桢

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar Patterns of 桢

桢 carries 2 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.

Exercise 1 of 1

Complete the Sentence

春,绝对是一____浸染着生命之色的画布.

Spring is definitely a life ching disseminated the canvas color.

Example Sentences for 桢 (1)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
春,绝对是一桢浸染着生命之色的画布.

chūn, , jué duì shì yī zhēn jìn rǎn zháo shēng mìng zhī sè de huà.

Spring is definitely a life ching disseminated the canvas color.

Cultural Notes for 桢

🏮Cultural insight

In traditional Chinese architecture, the use of hardwood like 桢 for structural posts is essential for maintaining the integrity of buildings, reflecting the importance of nature in Chinese craftsmanship.

Word Family of 桢

Words Containing This Character2
zhēnevergreen shrub
竺可桢Zhu Kezhen (1890-1974), Chinese metereologist and geologist竺可楨
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 桢 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 桢

桢 specifically refers to hardwood, while other characters may refer to different types of trees or wood.