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March 24, 2026
柳liǔ(Liu3)
The character 柳 (liǔ) primarily means 'willow tree' and is often associated with grace and flexibility due to the tree's drooping branches. It can also refer to the surname Liu, which is quite common in China. Additionally, 柳 conveys a sense of pleasure, often used in poetic contexts.
Strokes9Radical木Frequency#9621DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
The willow tree has deep cultural significance in China, often symbolizing resilience and adaptability. It is commonly found in traditional Chinese poetry and art, representing beauty and transience.
Memory Tip
Imagine a graceful willow tree swaying in the breeze—its branches are light and flexible, just like the sound of 'liǔ.' The character 柳 can be visualized as a tree (木) with flowing branches, emphasizing its connection to nature and flexibility.
Meanings of 柳
liǔ(Liu3)
1willow tree; pleasure; surname
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 柳
柳Simplified
9Strokes
木Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 柳
Podcast: 柳
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AI Study Notes for 柳
Usage Notes
柳 is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts, especially in literature and poetry. Be careful not to confuse it with other characters that sound similar; for example, '流' (liú) means 'to flow.' Collocations include '柳树' (willow tree) and '柳叶' (willow leaves).
HSK Study Tips
柳 is not included in the HSK levels, but it connects well with other nature-related words like '花' (flower) and '树' (tree). Students should focus on pronunciation and recognizing its use in literary contexts.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 柳 (liǔ) with similar-sounding characters like 流 (liú). For instance, saying '柳水' instead of '流水' when referring to flowing water is incorrect; the correct term is '流水'.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 柳
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Phonosemantic compound. 木 represents the meaning and 卯 represents the sound. Simplified form of 栁.
1The meaning half木 carries the sense.
2The sound half卯 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawaytree
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 柳? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 柳?
Decomposition of 柳
IDS Structure⿰木卯
柳Full Character
=
木Mu4
left
卯mao3
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 柳?
How to say willow tree; pleasure; surname in Chinese
“willow tree; pleasure; surname” in Chinese is柳liǔ
The character 柳 (liǔ) primarily means 'willow tree' and is often associated with grace and flexibility due to the tree's drooping branches. It can also refer to the surname Liu, which is quite common in China. Additionally, 柳 conveys a sense of pleasure, often used in poetic contexts.
When to use 柳
柳 is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts, especially in literature and poetry. Be careful not to confuse it with other characters that sound similar; for example, '流' (liú) means 'to flow.' Collocations include '柳树' (willow tree) and '柳叶' (willow leaves).
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 柳 (liǔ) with similar-sounding characters like 流 (liú). For instance, saying '柳水' instead of '流水' when referring to flowing water is incorrect; the correct term is '流水'.
Write 柳
柳
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Practice writing 柳 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 柳
柳 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). It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 5
Complete the Sentence
最近一期的《____叶刀》杂志中强调了这一日益严重的问题。
The growing problem is underlined in the latest issue of the Lancet.
