Skip to content
Start your Chinese Learning JourneyStart Now
棠 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
棠tángcrabapple tree; wild plumn, 12 strokes, radical 木, rank #77971, Very Hard
棠tángcherry-appleunknown, 12 strokes, radical 木, rank #77971, Very Hard
táng(tang2)tang T2
  1. 1crabapple tree; wild plum
  2. 2cherry-apple
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

棠táng(tang2)

The character 棠 (táng) refers to a type of tree commonly known as the crabapple or wild plum. It is often associated with fruit-bearing trees and can also signify the beauty of nature, particularly in literary contexts. This term is not frequently used in everyday conversation but may appear in poetry or discussions about flora.

Strokes12Radical木Frequency#77971DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the crabapple tree is often admired for its beautiful blossoms in spring, symbolizing renewal and beauty. It may also be referenced in traditional poetry, celebrating nature.

Memory Tip

Imagine a crabapple tree in a beautiful garden. The character 棠 consists of the radical 木 (mù), which means 'tree', and the component 唐 (táng), which sounds like 'tang' in 'tangy', reminiscent of the sour taste of crabapples. Picture a tangy crabapple hanging from the tree, making it easier to remember both its meaning and its pronunciation.

Meanings of 棠

táng(tang2)
1crabapple tree; wild plum
2cherry-apple
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 棠 means.

About 棠

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

Podcast: 棠

JasonAmy

Podcast: 棠

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 棠

Usage Notes

Be aware that 棠 is more commonly found in written Chinese than spoken language. It is often used in a literary or poetic context. Avoid confusing it with similar-sounding words like 糖 (táng), which means 'sugar'.

HSK Study Tips

Though 棠 is not part of HSK vocabulary, it connects well with other HSK words related to nature and plants, like 花 (huā, flower) and 树 (shù, tree). Focus on the radicals to help memorize its meaning.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 棠 (táng) with 糖 (táng), leading to miscommunication about trees versus sugar. Remember that 棠 relates to trees, while 糖 refers to sweet substances.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 棠

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 棠 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsInstant feedback+5 XP
See plans to unlock

Jason Explains 棠 to You

Let me explain 棠 for you

Make it yours

Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 棠 through them.

Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 300 AI credits.

How Well Do You Know 棠?

Example

Learning Lab

Knowing 棠 is seven skills, not one.

Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.

  • MeaningFree
  • CharacterFree
  • PinyinFree
  • TonePro
  • ListeningPro
  • SpeakingPro
  • WritingPro
See the Learning Lab Three facets free · no card needed

Etymology of 棠

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

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

Memory Hint

tree

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

Origin

棠 = 木 + 尚. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 棠

IDS Structure⿱尚木
棠Full Character
=
尚Shang4
top
木Mu4
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 棠?

How to say crabapple tree; wild plum in Chinese

“crabapple tree; wild plum” in Chinese is棠táng

The character 棠 (táng) refers to a type of tree commonly known as the crabapple or wild plum. It is often associated with fruit-bearing trees and can also signify the beauty of nature, particularly in literary contexts. This term is not frequently used in everyday conversation but may appear in poetry or discussions about flora.

When to use 棠

Be aware that 棠 is more commonly found in written Chinese than spoken language. It is often used in a literary or poetic context. Avoid confusing it with similar-sounding words like 糖 (táng), which means 'sugar'.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 棠 (táng) with 糖 (táng), leading to miscommunication about trees versus sugar. Remember that 棠 relates to trees, while 糖 refers to sweet substances.

Write 棠

棠

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Ask Jason

Have a question about 棠?

Jason answers about this word at your level: example sentences, how it differs from similar words, and a way to remember it.

Sign in free to ask. New accounts start with 300 AI credits.

Cultural Notes for 棠

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

In Western cultures, crabapple trees are often appreciated for their ornamental value, whereas in Chinese culture, they may carry deeper symbolic meanings related to nature and beauty.

Word Family of 棠

Words Containing This Character6
左宗棠Zuo Zongtang (1812-1885), Chinese administrator and military leader
棠tángcherry-apple
秋海棠begonia
海棠花Chinese flowering crab-apple (Malus spectabilis)
棠梨birch-leaved pear (Pyrus betulaefolia)
孙毓棠Sun Yutang (1911-1985), historian and poet, studied in Tokyo, Oxford and Harvard孫毓棠
Exercise 1 of 4

Words with 棠

What does 左宗棠 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 棠

棠 specifically refers to crabapple or wild plum, while other characters like 苹果 (píngguǒ) refer to apples and 柿子 (shìzi) to persimmons.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 棠?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.

A sample week, replayed. Every page you study lands here in the order you did it — your own replay starts with a free account.

See the Learning Lab