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橼 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
橼yuáncitrusx, 16 strokes, radical 木
橼yuánCitrus medicaunknown, 16 strokes, radical 木
yuán(yuan2)yuan T2
  1. 1citrus
  2. 2Citrus medica
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March 24, 2026

橼(櫞)yuán(yuan2)

The character 橼 (yuán) refers to a specific type of citrus fruit, known as Citrus medica, commonly called the citron. It is often used in traditional Chinese medicine and is valued for its aromatic properties and health benefits. This citrus fruit is recognized for its thick rind and fragrant aroma, often featured in cultural practices and culinary uses.

Strokes16Radical木
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, the citron (associated with 橼) is often used during festivals and traditional ceremonies, symbolizing prosperity and good fortune. Its presence in offerings during the Lunar New Year showcases its importance in cultural rituals.

Memory tip

Imagine a giant citrus fruit, the citron, shaped like a lantern (橼 sounds like 'yuan' which can remind you of 'lantern'). Picture this lantern glowing in a garden filled with fragrant citrus trees, emphasizing its uniqueness and aromatic qualities.

Meanings of 橼

yuán(yuan2)
1citrus
2Citrus medica
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 橼

橼Simplified
櫞Traditional
16Strokes
木Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 橼

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Podcast: 橼

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AI study notes for 橼

Usage Notes

When using 橼, be mindful that it is typically found in more formal or literary contexts, as everyday conversations may not frequently include this specific type of citrus. It's important to pair it with words related to food or medicine when discussing its uses. Avoid confusing it with other common citrus words like 橙 (chéng) for orange.

HSK Study Tips

While 橼 does not appear in the HSK vocabulary lists, it can be beneficial for learners at the higher levels (HSK 4 and above) to expand their vocabulary in specialized topics, such as botany or culinary terms. Students should focus on the pronunciation and context in which this character is used, particularly in literature or traditional practices.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 橼 with similar characters like 橙 (chéng) for orange, leading to incorrect usage in contexts related to food. Always remember that 橼 specifically refers to the citron and its unique properties.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 橼

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Etymology of 橼

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

tree

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

Origin

橼 = 木 + 缘. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 橼

IDS Structure⿰木缘
橼Full character
=
木Mu4
left
缘yuan2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 橼?

How to say citrus in Chinese

“citrus” in Chinese is橼yuán

The character 橼 (yuán) refers to a specific type of citrus fruit, known as Citrus medica, commonly called the citron. It is often used in traditional Chinese medicine and is valued for its aromatic properties and health benefits. This citrus fruit is recognized for its thick rind and fragrant aroma, often featured in cultural practices and culinary uses.

When to use 橼

When using 橼, be mindful that it is typically found in more formal or literary contexts, as everyday conversations may not frequently include this specific type of citrus. It's important to pair it with words related to food or medicine when discussing its uses. Avoid confusing it with other common citrus words like 橙 (chéng) for orange.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 橼 with similar characters like 橙 (chéng) for orange, leading to incorrect usage in contexts related to food. Always remember that 橼 specifically refers to the citron and its unique properties.

Write 橼

橼

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

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Word Family of 橼

Words containing this character3
枸橼grapefruit枸櫞
香橼grapefruit香櫞
橼yuánCitrus medica櫞
Exercise 1 of 2

Words with 橼

What does 枸橼 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 橼

It translates to 'citron', which is a type of citrus fruit.

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