楝 meaning and stroke order
Melia japonica
How to write 楝, stroke by stroke
13 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 楝
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- Melia japonica
How 楝 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Tree.
木 gives the meaning and 柬 hints at the sound.
Radical: 木 (tree), shared by 388 characters on this site.
How to remember 楝
楝 is a tree 木 (mù) on the left with 柬 (jiǎn) on the right giving the sound. Picture a tree whose name you have to pick out carefully, the way 柬 suggests choosing, and remember it is the chinaberry tree.
楝 (liàn) names the chinaberry tree, also called Melia, and usually appears in the word 楝树 (liànshù). You will meet it in botany, gardening, and traditional medicine texts rather than daily talk. Example: 院子里有一棵楝树。(Yuànzi li yǒu yī kē liànshù.) There is a chinaberry tree in the yard.
Common mistake: Learners often read 楝 as jiǎn because of the 柬 part, but the character is pronounced liàn with a fourth tone. It is also easy to confuse with 练 (liàn, practice) and 炼 (liàn, refine), which share the sound but use 纟 and 火 instead of 木.
Questions about 楝
How many strokes are in 楝?
楝 is written with 13 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 楝 mean?
楝 (liàn) means Melia japonica.
How do you pronounce 楝?
楝 is pronounced liàn, in the fourth tone (falling).
What is the radical of 楝?
The radical of 楝 is 木, which carries the idea of "tree". Dictionaries list 楝 under this radical.
What does the chinaberry tree look like?
The chinaberry or Melia tree has feathery compound leaves, small purple flowers in spring, and round yellowish berries. It is common in southern China and is planted for shade.
Is 楝 used in any common words besides 楝树?
The most common terms are 楝树 (liànshù) and 苦楝 (kǔliàn), a name for the chinaberry tree. Outside botanical or medical contexts the character is rare.