小树 (xiǎo shù) — sapling, young tree; shrub

Definition

A small or young tree — literally 'little tree' (小 + 树). Refers to a sapling or a small tree still growing, not a mature one.

noun

saplingyoung treeshrub

Measure word · 棵

Easily confused

小树。
Zhè kē xiǎo shù shì wǒ qù nián zhǒng de.
This sapling is the one I planted last year.
小树。
Huā yuán lǐ yǒu hěn duō xiǎo shù.
There are many small trees in the garden.
小树。
Zhè kē xiǎo shù yǐ jīng zhǎng chéng dà shù le.
This young tree has grown into a big tree.

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.

小树 combines 小 meaning small or young with 树 meaning tree, giving a young tree.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

The shape of 小 comes from three small dots, later elongated into its strokes; the apparent parts 八 and 丨 are a later way of seeing it.

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.