楠 meaning and stroke order
Machilus nanmu
How to write 楠, 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 楠
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- Machilus nanmu
- Chinese cedar
- Chinese giant redwood
- variant of 楠[nan2]
How 楠 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Tree.
木 gives the meaning and 南 hints at the sound.
Radical: 木 (tree), shared by 388 characters on this site.
How to remember 楠
楠 is a tree 木 (mù) on the left with 南 (nán, south) on the right. Picture a tall tree growing in the warm south, and the 南 also tells you the sound nán.
楠 names the nanmu tree, a prized hardwood used for fine furniture and old palace pillars. It appears in words like 楠木 (nánmù) and is also a popular character in given names. Example: 这张桌子是楠木做的。(Zhè zhāng zhuōzi shì nánmù zuò de.) This table is made of nanmu wood.
Common mistake: Learners sometimes confuse 楠 with 南 (nán, south) or 喃 (nán, to murmur), since all three share the same sound. Remember that only 楠 has the tree radical 木, so it is the one about wood.
楠 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 楠
How many strokes are in 楠?
楠 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 楠 mean?
楠 (nán) means Machilus nanmu.
How do you pronounce 楠?
楠 is pronounced nán, in the second tone (rising).
What is the radical of 楠?
The radical of 楠 is 木, which carries the idea of "tree". Dictionaries list 楠 under this radical.
What is the traditional form of 楠?
The traditional form of 楠 is 枏 and 柟. Traditional characters are used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau; 楠 is the simplified form used in mainland China and Singapore.
Is 楠 common in Chinese names?
Yes. 楠 is often used in given names, especially for girls, as in 李楠 (Lǐ Nán). It suggests something solid, valuable and long lasting, like the wood itself.
Why is 楠木 wood so famous in China?
楠木 (nánmù) is a durable, fragrant hardwood that resists rot and insects. It was traditionally used for imperial buildings and high quality furniture, so the word carries a sense of luxury.