柏树 (bǎi shù) — cypress tree | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

cypress tree

Measure word · 棵

Examples

柏树。
Zhè kē bǎi shù yǐ jīng huó le jǐ bǎi nián.
This cypress tree has lived for several hundred years.
柏树。
Yuán lín lǐ zhǒng le hěn duō bǎi shù hé sōng shù.
Many cypress and pine trees were planted in the garden.
柏树，。
bǎi shù De mù cái hěn jiē shi, kě yǐ yòng lái zuò jiā jù.
Cypress wood is very sturdy and can be used to make furniture.

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

柏 names the kind of 树, giving a cypress 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.

木白柏

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.

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

HSK 3.0 Level 7-9 Trees & Forest

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