森 meaning and stroke order
Forest; luxuriant vegetation
How to write 森, stroke by stroke
12 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 森
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- (bound form) densely wooded
- (fig.) (bound form) multitudinous; gloomy; forbidding
How 森 is built
Ideographic (compound meaning) character. Many trees 木 forming a forest.
Radical: 木 (tree), shared by 388 characters on this site.
How to remember 森
森 (sēn) is three 木 (mù, tree) stacked together, one on top and two below. One tree is a tree, two trees 林 (lín) are a grove, and three trees make a dense forest.
森 is a bound form, so it almost always appears inside words like 森林 (sēnlín, forest), 阴森 (yīnsēn, gloomy), and 森严 (sēnyán, strict). Example: 这片森林很大。(Zhè piàn sēnlín hěn dà.) This forest is very big.
Common mistake: Learners often mix up 森 (three trees) with 林 (lín, two trees), especially when writing 森林, where 森 comes first. Also note that the top 木 in 森 is written full size, while the two bottom ones are narrowed so they fit side by side.
Common words with 森
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
森 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 森
How many strokes are in 森?
森 is written with 12 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 森 mean?
森 (sēn) means forest; luxuriant vegetation. A common word with it is 森林 (sēnlín), meaning "forest".
How do you pronounce 森?
森 is pronounced sēn, in the first tone (high and level).
What is the radical of 森?
The radical of 森 is 木, which carries the idea of "tree". Dictionaries list 森 under this radical.
Is 森 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 森 is part of the HSK 4 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard, and you are expected to write it by hand from HSK 3.
What is the difference between 森林 and 树林?
森林 (sēnlín) is a large, natural forest and sounds more formal or scientific. 树林 (shùlín) is a smaller wood or grove, like a group of trees near a village or in a park.
Why does 森 also mean gloomy or strict?
A dense forest is dark and imposing, so 森 took on figurative senses of gloomy and forbidding. That is why you see it in 阴森 (yīnsēn, sinister) and 戒备森严 (jièbèi sēnyán, heavily guarded).