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March 24, 2026
檎qín(qin2)
檎 (qín) refers to a small red apple, often associated with its sweet taste and crisp texture. While it may not be as commonly used as the general term for apple (苹果, píngguǒ), it can denote a specific variety or a more poetic context in literature and conversation.
Strokes16Radical木Frequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, apples symbolize peace and safety, often given as gifts during festivals. The specific term 檎 might appear in poetry or traditional stories where apples are celebrated for their beauty and sweetness.
Memory Tip
Think of a 'small red apple' that sounds like 'keen' (qín). Imagine a tiny apple, so perfectly red that it catches your eye, making you feel keen to bite into it. The character 檎 has the radical for tree (木), suggesting it's a fruit that grows on trees.
Meanings of 檎
qín(qin2)
1a small red apple
2(fruit)
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 檎
檎Simplified
16Strokes
木Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 檎
Podcast: 檎
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AI Study Notes for 檎
Memory Mnemonic
Think of a 'small red apple' that sounds like 'keen' (qín). Imagine a tiny apple, so perfectly red that it catches your eye, making you feel keen to bite into it. The character 檎 has the radical for tree (木), suggesting it's a fruit that grows on trees.
Usage Notes
Be aware that 檎 is not commonly used in casual conversation; instead, 苹果 is preferred. It may appear in literary texts or when describing specific varieties of apples. Ensure to pronounce it correctly with the second tone, as mispronouncing it might lead to confusion with other terms.
HSK Study Tips
檎 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, but understanding it can enhance your knowledge of fruit-related vocabulary. Focus on recognizing the character components, especially the tree radical, as it connects to many other fruit-related terms.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, apples symbolize peace and safety, often given as gifts during festivals. The specific term 檎 might appear in poetry or traditional stories where apples are celebrated for their beauty and sweetness.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 檎 with 苹果, mistakenly using it in casual contexts. For example, saying '我想要一个檎' instead of '我想要一个苹果' (I want an apple) would be incorrect in everyday conversation.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 檎
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Cultural Notes for 檎
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, apples symbolize peace and safety, often given as gifts during festivals. The specific term 檎 might appear in poetry or traditional stories where apples are celebrated for their beauty and sweetness.
Word Family of 檎
Words Containing This Character2
檎qín(fruit)
林檎Chinese pearleaf crabapple (Malus asiatica)
Exercise 1 of 2
Compound Meaning
What does 檎 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 檎
No, 檎 is more literary and less common than 苹果, which is the standard term for apple.
The correct pronunciation is 'qín' with a second tone.
Yes, besides 檎, you can use 苹果 for general apples and learn specific varieties like 红富士 (hóng fùshì) for Fuji apples.
