树 meaning and stroke order
Tree; to cultivate; to set up
How to write 树, 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.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
Meaning of 树
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- tree
- to cultivate
- to set up
How 树 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Tree.
木 gives the meaning and 对 hints at the sound.
Radical: 木 (tree), shared by 388 characters on this site.
How to remember 树
树 is pictophonetic: 木 (mù, wood) on the left gives the meaning, and 对 (duì) on the right was chosen as the sound component. Picture a tree 木 standing next to its matching pair 对 (correct, pair) to remember that this is a whole tree.
树 (shù) is the everyday word for a tree and appears in many tree names like 松树 (sōngshù, pine tree) and 果树 (guǒshù, fruit tree). It also has an abstract sense of setting something up, as in 树立 (shùlì, to establish). Example: 院子里有一棵大树。(Yuànzi lǐ yǒu yì kē dà shù.) There is a big tree in the yard.
Common mistake: Learners often write the right side as 寸 alone or mix it up with 村 (cūn, village), which is 木 plus 寸 without the 又. Remember 树 has 木, then 又, then 寸.
Common words with 树
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 树林 | shùlín | woods; grove | HSK 4 |
| 树叶 | shùyè | tree leaves | HSK 4 |
| 松树 | sōngshù | pine; pine tree | HSK 4 |
| 桃树 | táoshù | peach tree | HSK 5 |
| 果树 | guǒshù | fruit tree | HSK 6 |
| 树木 | shùmù | tree | HSK 7-9 |
| 树枝 | shùzhī | branch; twig | HSK 7-9 |
| 树立 | shùlì | to set up; to establish | HSK 7-9 |
| 柳树 | liǔshù | willow | HSK 7-9 |
| 柏树 | bǎishù | cypress tree; Taiwan pr. [bo2 shu4] | HSK 7-9 |
| 槐树 | huáishù | locust tree (Sophora japonica) | HSK 7-9 |
| 建树 | jiànshù | to make a contribution; to establish | HSK 7-9 |
| 树梢 | shùshāo | the tip of a tree; treetop | HSK 7-9 |
| 树荫 | shùyīn | shade of a tree; Taiwan pr. [shu4yin4] | HSK 7-9 |
树 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 树
How many strokes are in 树?
树 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 树 mean?
树 (shù) means tree; to cultivate; to set up. A common word with it is 树林 (shùlín), meaning "woods; grove".
How do you pronounce 树?
树 is pronounced shù, in the fourth tone (falling).
What is the radical of 树?
The radical of 树 is 木, which carries the idea of "tree". Dictionaries list 树 under this radical.
What is the traditional form of 树?
The traditional form of 树 is 樹. Traditional characters are used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau; 树 is the simplified form used in mainland China and Singapore.
Is 树 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 树 is part of the HSK 1 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard, and you are expected to write it by hand from HSK 1.
What measure word is used with 树?
Use 棵 (kē) for trees, as in 一棵树 (yì kē shù, one tree). Using 个 (gè) is understood but sounds less natural.
What is the difference between 树 and 树木?
树 is the normal word for a single tree or trees in general. 树木 (shùmù) is more formal and collective, often used for trees as a group, such as in writing about forests or the environment.