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樱 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
樱yīngcherry, cherry blossomnr, 15 strokes, radical 木, rank #20484, Very Hard
yīng(ying1)ying T1
  1. 1cherry, cherry blossom
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March 24, 2026

樱(櫻)yīng(ying1)

樱 (yīng) refers to the cherry tree and its blossoms, which are celebrated for their beauty, particularly in spring. This character is commonly used in expressions related to nature and aesthetics, especially in the context of cherry blossom festivals in China and Japan, symbolizing the transient nature of life.

Strokes15Radical木Frequency#20484DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

The cherry blossom holds significant cultural importance in China, symbolizing beauty, love, and the fleeting nature of life. The annual cherry blossom festivals attract many visitors and are a time of celebration and reflection.

Memory tip

Picture a cherry tree with pink blossoms. The character 樱 has the radical 木 (tree) on the left, reminding you it's a type of tree. Think of 'yīng' sounding like 'young' - young trees produce beautiful flowers in spring.

Meanings of 樱

yīng(ying1)
1cherry, cherry blossom
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 樱

樱Simplified
櫻Traditional
15Strokes
木Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

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Podcast: 樱

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AI study notes for 樱

Quick Contrast

樱花 (yīnghuā) - specifically refers to cherry blossoms, while 樱 (yīng) can refer to the cherry tree itself.

Usage Notes

樱 is typically used in both formal and informal contexts when discussing cherry blossoms or related topics. Common collocations include 樱花 (yīnghuā) meaning 'cherry blossom' and 樱桃 (yīngtáo) meaning 'cherry fruit.' Be careful with the tone, as mispronouncing 'yīng' can change the word entirely.

HSK Study Tips

While 樱 is not classified under a specific HSK level, it connects well with other nature-related vocabulary. Students should focus on recognizing the tree radical (木) and how it appears in other characters related to nature.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 樱 (yīng) with similar sounding words, such as 瀛 (yíng), which means 'ocean.' Remember that 樱 specifically refers to cherry trees and blossoms. Double-check the tone to avoid confusion.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 樱

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Etymology of 樱

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

tree

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

Origin

樱 = 木 + 婴. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 樱

IDS Structure⿰木婴
樱Full character
=
木Mu4
left
婴ying1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 樱?

How to say cherry, cherry blossom in Chinese

“cherry, cherry blossom” in Chinese is樱yīng

樱 (yīng) refers to the cherry tree and its blossoms, which are celebrated for their beauty, particularly in spring. This character is commonly used in expressions related to nature and aesthetics, especially in the context of cherry blossom festivals in China and Japan, symbolizing the transient nature of life.

When to use 樱

樱 is typically used in both formal and informal contexts when discussing cherry blossoms or related topics. Common collocations include 樱花 (yīnghuā) meaning 'cherry blossom' and 樱桃 (yīngtáo) meaning 'cherry fruit.' Be careful with the tone, as mispronouncing 'yīng' can change the word entirely.

樱 or something close to it

樱花 (yīnghuā) - specifically refers to cherry blossoms, while 樱 (yīng) can refer to the cherry tree itself.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 樱 (yīng) with similar sounding words, such as 瀛 (yíng), which means 'ocean.' Remember that 樱 specifically refers to cherry trees and blossoms. Double-check the tone to avoid confusion.

Write 樱

樱

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

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Grammar patterns of 樱

樱 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 4

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

今年华盛顿的____花开得很早。

The cherry blossom came out early in Washington this year.

Example sentences for 樱 (10)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
今年华盛顿的樱花开得很早。

jīnnián huā chéng dùn de yīng huā kāi de hěn zǎo。

The cherry blossom came out early in Washington this year.
2
樱桃的颜色由近乎黑到黄各不相同.

yīng táo de yánsè yóu jìn hū hēi dào huáng gè bù xiāngtóng.

Cherries vary in colour from almost black to yellow.
3
光线透过樱桃树柔和的绿阴隐约照进我的厨房。

guāngxiàn tòuguò yīng táoshù róuhé de lǜ yīn yǐnyuē zhào jìn wǒ de chúfáng。

Light filtered into my kitchen through the soft, green shade of the cherry tree.
4
这些樱桃尝起来很甜.

zhèxiē yīng táo cháng qǐlái hěn tián.

It is very sweet that these cherries are tasted.
5
甜樱桃缺锌比苹果缺锌更难纠正.

tián yīng táo quē xīn bǐ píngguǒ quē xīn gèng nán jiūzhèng.

Zinc deficiency is more difficult to correct on sweet cherry than apple.
6
两种主要的樱桃品种分别是甜樱桃和酸樱桃.

liǎng zhǒng zhǔyào de yīng táo pǐnzhǒng fēnbié shì tián yīng táo hé suān yīng táo.

The 2 major kinds of cherries are sweet and sour.
7
爱的感觉比樱桃更甜英语怎么说?

ài de gǎnjué bǐ yīng táo gèng tián yīngyǔ zěnme shuō?

The feeling of love is sweeter than a cheery.
8
春天时, 我们在屋外的樱花树下喝茶.

chūntiān shí, wǒmen zài wū wài de yīng huā shù xià hēchá.

In spring, we have tea with outdoors under the cherry tree.
9
一窝绿叶衬托着一朵樱草花.

yī wō lǜ xié chèntuō zhe yī duǒ yīng cǎo huā.

The primrose is set off by its nest of green.
10
葡萄品种: 梅洛 、 赤霞珠 、 品丽珠色泽: 樱桃红色.

pútao pǐnzhǒng: méi luò、 chì xiá zhū、 pǐn lí zhū sè zé: yīng táo hóngsè.

Grape Variety: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc. Colour: Cherry red colour.

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Cultural Notes for 樱

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

Unlike in many Western cultures where cherry trees are appreciated mainly for their fruit, in China and Japan, the blossoms themselves are a major cultural symbol, celebrated in festivals and art.

Word Family of 樱

Words containing this character4
樱桃cherry櫻桃
樱yīngcherry櫻
樱花also known as sakura (Japanese) or Yoshino cherry櫻花
樱井Sakurai (Japanese surname and place name)櫻井
Exercise 1 of 3

Words with 樱

What does 樱桃 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 樱

樱花 refers to cherry blossoms, which are celebrated for their beauty, while 樱桃 refers to the actual cherries that grow on these trees.

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