梓 (zǐ) — (literary) catalpa tree; (in 乡梓, 梓里) one's hometown; (in 付梓, 梓行) to print; woodblocks for printing

Definition

梓 (zǐ) is a literary bound morph meaning 'catalpa tree' that extends to 'hometown' (as in 乡梓) and 'woodblock printing' (as in 付梓). It appears only as part of these set compounds, never on its own.

bound form
(literary) catalpa tree(in 乡梓, 梓里) one's hometown(in 付梓, 梓行) to printwoodblocks for printing
Easily confused

Examples

  • 梓。
    Zhè kē zǐ shù yǐ jīng yǒu yì bǎi duō nián le.
    This catalpa tree is already over a hundred years old.
  • 梓，。
    Tā zhōng yú huí dào xiāng zǐ, guò qǐ le ān jìng de shēng huó.
    He finally returned to his hometown and started a quiet life.
  • 梓，。
    Zhè bù shū gǎo yǐ jīng fù zǐ, nián dǐ jiù néng chū bǎn.
    This manuscript has been sent for printing and will be published by the end of the year.

Origin

Sound + meaning
六书liùshū
形声xíngshēng

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
木木mùwood; tree
Sound part声符shēngfú
宰
宰zǎi梓zǐ
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

梓 is built from 木 (wood or tree) and 宰, which gives the sound.

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