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樹 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
樹shùtree; to plant; to set up, to establishzg, 16 strokes, radical 木
shù(shu4)shu T4
  1. 1tree; to plant; to set up, to establish
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March 24, 2026

樹shù(shu4)

The character 樹 (shù) primarily means 'tree' and can also refer to the act of planting or establishing something. It is commonly used in contexts related to nature, gardening, and the establishment of institutions or systems.

Strokes16Radical木
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, trees symbolize growth, stability, and longevity, often featured in traditional poetry and art. The act of planting trees is also associated with environmental conservation efforts and is celebrated during events like Arbor Day.

Memory tip

Imagine a tall, sturdy tree (樹) with branches reaching out, representing growth and establishment. The character has a 'tree' radical (木) at the bottom, which visually connects to its meaning. Think of 'shù' as the sound of a tree swaying in the wind.

Meanings of 樹

shù(shu4)
1tree; to plant; to set up, to establish
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 樹 means.

About 樹

樹Simplified
16Strokes
木Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 樹

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Podcast: 樹

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AI study notes for 樹

Quick Contrast

树 (shù) vs 林 (lín) — use 树 for individual trees, and 林 for forests or groups of trees.

Usage Notes

Be cautious with the tone; 'shù' is pronounced with a falling tone, which distinguishes it from similar-sounding words. It is often used in both formal and informal contexts, such as in environmental discussions or personal anecdotes about planting trees. Common collocations include '樹木' (shùmù - trees) and '樹立' (shùlì - to establish).

HSK Study Tips

Although 樹 is not specifically listed on HSK levels, its fundamental meaning and applications can be related to HSK Level 2 vocabulary that deals with nature and everyday objects. Students should focus on recognizing the character in both its noun and verb forms.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 樹 with similar sounding words like '书' (shū - book). Remember that 樹 refers specifically to trees or establishment, while 书 refers to written materials. Additionally, some may incorrectly use the character in a non-planting context; ensure it's used appropriately in discussions about nature or establishment.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 樹

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Etymology of 樹

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

Phonosemantic compound. 木 represents the meaning and 对 represents the sound. Simplified form of 樹.

Memory hint

tree

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

Origin

樹 = 木 + 尌. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 樹

IDS Structure⿰木尌
樹Full character
=
木Mu4
left
尌shu4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 樹?

How to say tree; to plant; to set up, to establish in Chinese

“tree; to plant; to set up, to establish” in Chinese is樹shù

The character 樹 (shù) primarily means 'tree' and can also refer to the act of planting or establishing something. It is commonly used in contexts related to nature, gardening, and the establishment of institutions or systems.

When to use 樹

Be cautious with the tone; 'shù' is pronounced with a falling tone, which distinguishes it from similar-sounding words. It is often used in both formal and informal contexts, such as in environmental discussions or personal anecdotes about planting trees. Common collocations include '樹木' (shùmù - trees) and '樹立' (shùlì - to establish).

樹 or something close to it

树 (shù) vs 林 (lín) — use 树 for individual trees, and 林 for forests or groups of trees.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 樹 with similar sounding words like '书' (shū - book). Remember that 樹 refers specifically to trees or establishment, while 书 refers to written materials. Additionally, some may incorrectly use the character in a non-planting context; ensure it's used appropriately in discussions about nature or establishment.

Write 樹

樹

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

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Word Family of 樹

Words containing this character20
树shùtree樹
树立shùlìto set up樹立
树林shùlínwoods樹林
树木shùmùtree樹木
圣诞树Christmas tree聖誕樹
树枝shùzhībranch樹枝
树叶shùyètree leaves樹葉
树脂resin樹脂
树丛thicket樹叢
果树guǒshùfruit tree果樹
松树sōngshùpine松樹
橡树oak橡樹
植树to plant trees植樹
树干tree trunk樹幹
树种tree species樹種
大树Tashu township in Kaohsiung county 高雄縣|高雄县[Gāo​xióng​xiàn], southwest Taiwan大樹
摇钱树a source of easy money (idiom)搖錢樹
独树一帜to stand out獨樹一幟
树根tree roots樹根
柳树liǔshùwillow柳樹
Exercise 1 of 4

Characters with 樹

What does 树 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 樹

Common phrases include '樹木' (shùmù - trees) and '樹立' (shùlì - to establish), both reflecting the character’s meanings.

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