柏木 (bǎi mù) — cypress (tree or wood of the Cupressaceae family); also refers to thuja and cedar in certain contexts

Definition

柏木 is a type of fragrant, durable coniferous wood (or the tree itself), used in furniture and traditional architecture. In English the tree is usually called 'cypress', though it also covers thuja and cedar in looser usage.

noun
cypress (tree or wood of the Cupressaceae family)also refers to thuja and cedar in certain contexts
Measure word · 棵

Examples

  • 柏木。
    Zhè zhǒng bǎi mù cháng yòng yú zhì zuò jiā jù.
    This kind of cypress wood is often used to make furniture.
  • 柏木。
    Yuàn zi lǐ de bǎi mù cháng dé fēi cháng gāo.
    The cypress tree in the yard has grown very tall.
  • 柏木。
    Zhōng guó de bǎi mù zhǔ yào shēng zhǎng zài nán fāng dì qū.
    China's cypress trees mainly grow in the southern regions.

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.

柏bǎicypress
木mùwood/tree

Cypress plus wood/tree names the cypress tree or its timber.

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
木木mùtree
Sound part声符shēngfú
白
白bái柏bǎi
Same sound today

柏 pairs 木, showing a tree, with 白, which gives the sound.

Open 柏 →

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

木 is drawn as a tree, with branches above and roots below.

Open 木 →

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