苹果树 (píng guǒ shù) — apple tree | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

apple tree

Measure word · 棵

Examples

苹果树。
Yuàn zi lǐ yǒu yì kē píng guǒ shù.
There is an apple tree in the yard.
，苹果树。
Qiū tiān de shí hou, píng guǒ shù shàng jiē mǎn le píng guǒ.
In autumn, the apple tree is full of apples.
苹果树。
Zhè kē píng guǒ shù yǐ jīng zhǒng le shí nián le.
This apple tree has been planted for ten years.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

苹果apple

苹píngapple果guǒfruit

偏正Modifier + head

苹果 “apple” and 树 “tree” combine to mean an apple tree.

Characters in this word

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

艸艸cǎo

Sound part声符shēngfú

平

Same sound today

苹 combines 艸, the grass component, with 平, which provides its sound.

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

果 originally drew fruits hanging on a tree.

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 樹; 树 is its simplified writing.

木尌樹

Meaning part形符xíngfú

木木mùtree

Sound part声符shēngfú

尌

尌shù樹shù

Same sound today

Originally 尌, 'to plant a tree', was written alone; the traditional form 樹 adds 木, 'tree', to it to differentiate.

Appears in

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