柊 meaning and stroke order
Holly
How to write 柊, stroke by stroke
9 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
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Meaning of 柊
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- used in 柊葉|柊叶[zhong1 ye4]
How 柊 is built
Ideographic (compound meaning) character. A winter 冬 tree 木; 冬 also provides the pronunciation.
Radical: 木 (tree), shared by 388 characters on this site.
How to remember 柊
柊 combines 木 (mù, tree) and 冬 (dōng, winter): a tree that stays green in winter, like holly. 冬 also hints at the sound, since dōng and zhōng rhyme.
柊 is a rare character. In the dictionary data it appears in the word 柊叶 (zhōngyè), a plant name. Example: 柊叶可以用来包粽子。(Zhōngyè kěyǐ yòng lái bāo zòngzi.) Zongye leaves can be used to wrap rice dumplings.
Common mistake: Learners often read 柊 as dōng because of the 冬 component. The correct reading is zhōng, with a zh sound and first tone.
Questions about 柊
How many strokes are in 柊?
柊 is written with 9 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 柊 mean?
柊 (zhōng) means holly.
How do you pronounce 柊?
柊 is pronounced zhōng, in the first tone (high and level).
What is the radical of 柊?
The radical of 柊 is 木, which carries the idea of "tree". Dictionaries list 柊 under this radical.
Is 柊 a common character in everyday Chinese?
No. It is rare in modern Mandarin and mostly shows up in the plant name 柊叶 (zhōngyè). You are unlikely to need it outside botanical or regional contexts.
Why does 柊 mean holly?
The character pairs 木 (tree) with 冬 (winter). It suggests a tree associated with winter, which fits holly, a plant known for staying green in the cold season.