枯树 (kū shù) — withered tree; dead tree

Definition

noun

withered treedead tree

Measure word · 棵

枯树。
Yuàn zi lǐ de kū shù zài fēng zhōng yáo dòng.
The withered tree in the yard swayed in the wind.
枯树。
Zhè kē kū shù dào le chūn tiān kě néng hái huì fā yá.
This dead tree might still sprout when spring comes.
枯树。
Nóng mín kǎn diào le tián biān de kū shù dāng chái shāo.
The farmer cut down the withered tree by the field for firewood.

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.

枯kūwithered

枯 means withered and 树 means tree, giving a withered 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.

木古枯

Meaning part形符xíngfú

木木mùtree

Sound part声符shēngfú

古

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

枯 pairs 木 (tree) with 古, which gives the sound.

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.