柰 (nài) — Chinese pearleaf crabapple (Malus asiatica)

Definition

A bound/formal literary form for a specific Chinese crabapple (Malus asiatica), not the everyday 苹果. Learners will only meet it in names like 柰子 or botanical/traditional texts.

bound form
Chinese pearleaf crabapple (Malus asiatica)
Easily confused

Examples

  • 柰。
    nài Shì yì zhǒng zhōng guó tè yǒu de shuǐ guǒ.
    The Chinese pearleaf crabapple is a fruit unique to China.
  • 柰。
    Zhè zhǒng nài de wèi dào suān tián kě kǒu.
    This kind of crabapple tastes sweet and sour.
  • 柰Malusasiatica。
    nài De xué míng shì Malus asiatica.
    The scientific name of the Chinese pearleaf crabapple is Malus asiatica.

Origin

Pictograph
六书liùshū
象形xiàngxíng

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

The drawing in 柰 shows a plant above a ritual stand, with wood being burned for a spirit.

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