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柳 (liǔ) — (bound form) willow

Definition

柳 is a bound form used as a noun prefix, almost always followed by 树 (willow tree) or 条 (willow branch). It is not used alone in modern Chinese — say 柳树 or 柳条, not 柳 by itself.

bound form
willow

Examples

  • 。
    Zhè kē liǔ shù hěn gāo.
    This willow tree is very tall.
  • 。
    Chūn tiān liǔ tiáo biàn lǜ le.
    In spring, willow branches turn green.
  • 。
    Hú biān zhǒng le hěn duō liǔ shù.
    Many willow trees were planted by the lake.

Origin

Sound + meaning
六书liùshū
形声xíngshēng

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mù
Sound part声符shēngfú
卯
卯mǎo柳liǔ
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The willow character 柳 pairs 木, tree, with 卯, which gives its sound.

Appears in
Trees & Forest

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